Psychodynamic approach

psychodynamic approach

uses emotions and behaviours derived from the unconscious mind to explain behaviour and defense mechanisms

parts of the mind

* **unconscious**: no access to. largest part of mind, determines our personality
* **preconscious**: limited access through dreams and parapraxes (freudian slip)
* **conscious**: full access - we are aware of it

structure of personality

* **id**: pleasure principle, operates in the unconscious, demands immediate gratification
* **ego**: balance principle, mediates between impulsive demands and reality of external world
* **superego**: morality principle, internalization of social rules, determined by parental standards of good behaviour

defense mechanisms

* **denial**: conscious, choosing to ignore something when it gets too stressful
* **repression**: pushed into unconscious when too stressful so the individual forgets about it
* **displacement**: redirecting feelings onto something else - a helpless victim or object.

psychosexual stages definition

sexual energy is expressed differently through different stages of life - proposed by freud

psychosexual stages

**oral**: 0-2

**anal**: 2-3

**phallic**: 3-6

**latent**: 6-12

**genital**: 12+

AO3: amplified psychological thinking

entrance of psychoanalysis offered a new explanation for behaviour. based on observation of behaviour rather than relying on introspection.

AO3: scientific support

some studies link to science such as studies relating to the unconscious mind and the defense mechanisms, adding scientific credibility to psychoanalytic explanations of human behaviour.

AO3: gender bias

freud offered limited explanation for women and their sexuality and mainly focused on developing ideas for young boys.

A03: culture bias

non-western countries may not value therapy like we do, studies showed that people in China refrain from talking about depression openly and repress feelings.