Psychodynamic Approach

Who developed the psychodynamic approach? AO1

Sigmund Freud

What does the psychodynamic approach assume influences behaviour? AO1

unconscious mind - this cannot be accessed by the individual

What does the psychodynamic approach assume all adult behaviour is determined by? AO1

early childhood experiences

What does the psychodynamic approach assume protects our unconscious mind from sources of anxiety? AO1

defence mechanisms

What does the psychodynamic approach assume is the best method of research? AO1

case studies

Why are case studies the best method of research? AO1

-studies individual in detail

-therapist can search for unconscious motives that have caused the problems

What are the key features of the psychodynamic approach? AO1

-Role of the Unconscious

-Psychosexual Stages

-Structure of the Personality

-Defence Mechanisms

What did Freud suggest our mind is made up of? AO1

-what are they called?

Made up of 3 Parts:

1. Conscious mind

2. Preconscious mind

3. Unconscious mind

What did Freud suggest the conscious mind is? AO1

part of the mind we are aware of and can access without any effort

What did Freud suggest the preconscious mind is? AO1

part of the mind that we cannot access without effort

What did Freud suggest the unconscious mind is? AO1

store for biological drives, instincts and desires that shape our behaviour and personality

What did Freud suggest the unconscious mind contains? AO1

contains traumatic childhood memories that have been repressed using defence mechanisms

How can these memories be accessed? AO1

during dreams, fantasies or slips of the tongue

What did Freud suggest our minds are largely made up of? AO1

our unconscious mind

What did Freud suggest our personality is made up of? AO1

-what are they called?

Made up of 3 Components:

1. ID

2. Ego

3. Superego

What is the id? AO1

-the primitive part of our personality

-it is present at birth

-described as our unconscious drives and instincts

-motivated by the pleasure principle; it demands instant gratification of its needs (the drives and instincts)

What is the ego? AO1

-the reality principle

-acts as a mediator between the demands of the id and the superego

-deploys defence mechanisms to achieve this

What is the superego? AO1

-formed at the end of the phallic stage

-the morality principle (internalised sense of right/wrong)

-ego does something wrong=punished with feelings of guilt

-ego does something correct=rewarded with feelings of pride

What does the ego use to help cope with the conflicting demands of the id and superego? AO1

defence mechanisms

What are defence mechanisms? AO1

an unconscious tool used to protect the conscious mind from real sources of anxiety

What do defence mechanisms generally involve? AO1

distortions of reality so are generally regarded as psychologically unhealthy in the long term

What are 3 examples of defence mechanisms used regularly? AO1

1. Denial

2. Displacement

3. Repression

What is denial? AO1

unconscious refusal to accept reality

What is displacement? AO1

diverting an unacceptable feeling from the source to something or someone else

What is repression? AO1

forcing a distressing memory out of conscious mind and refusing to deal with it

How many psychosexual stages of development do children pass through? AO1

-what are they called?

5 Stages:

1. Oral

2. Anal

3. Phallic

4. Latent

5. Genital

At what age does the oral stag of development occur? AO1

0-1 Years

Where is the focus of pleasure during the oral stage? AO1

the mouth

What are the child’s key behaviours during the oral stage? AO1

-sucking a dummy

-breast feeding from their mother

What happens if fixation occurs during the oral stage? AO1

can lead to addictive behaviours such as drinking and smoking as an adult

At what age does the anal stage of development occur? AO1

1-3 Years

Where is the focus of pleasure during the anal stage? AO1

the anus

What are the child’s key behaviours during the anal stage? AO1

focus is on toilet training

What happens if fixation occurs during the anal stage? AO1

leads to anal retention (cleanliness) and anal expulsive (messiness) behaviours as an adult

At what age does the phallic stage of development occur? AO1

3-6 Years

Where is the focus of pleasure during the phallic stage? AO1

the genitals

What are the child’s key behaviours during the phallic stage? AO1

experience the Oedipus Complex and the Electra Complex

What happens if fixation occurs during the phallic stage? AO1

can find it difficult to form attachments later in life

At what age does the latent stage of development occur? AO1

6-Puberty

Where is the focus of pleasure during the latent stage? AO1

no specific focus of pleasure or attachment

At what stage does the genital stage of development occur? AO1

Puberty-Adulthood

Where is the focus of pleasure during the genital stage

the genitals

What are the individuals key behaviours during the genital stage? AO1

individual forms romantic relationships