Topic 2a

Who developed the psychodynamic approach?

Sigmund Freud.

What is the unconscious mind?

A part of the mind that stores repressed memories, fears and desires that influence behaviour.

What are the three parts of personality?

Id (pleasure), ego (reality), superego (morality).

What is the id?

Operates on the pleasure principle, seeks immediate gratification.

What is the ego?

Operates on the reality principle, balances id and superego.

What is the superego?

Represents moral standards and conscience.

What causes anxiety (Freud)?

Conflict between id, ego and superego.

What are defence mechanisms?

Unconscious strategies to reduce anxiety (e.g. repression, denial, displacement).

What are psychosexual stages?

5 stages of development where pleasure focuses on different body parts.

What is fixation?

When a person is stuck at a stage due to too much/little pleasure.

Who developed attachment theory?

John Bowlby.

What is monotropy?

Child forms one main attachment figure (usually mother) essential for emotional development

What is maternal deprivation?

Lack or loss of attachment leading to emotional and developmental issues.

Long term effects e.g. low self esteem and problems forming bonds

Short-term effects of maternal deprivation?

Distress, despair, emotional detachment.

Long-term effects?

Low self-esteem, poor relationships, delinquency.

What is the internal working model?

A mental template for future relationships.

Secure attachment

If a child develops secure attachment more likely to form healthy relationships in adulthood

Insecure attachment

Leads to difficulties e.g. lack of trust and emotional distance

What did the 44 thieves study find?

Maternal deprivation linked to affectionless behaviour.

Who developed psychosocial theory?

Erik Erikson.

What does psychosocial theory explain?

Development of self, relationships and society across lifespan.

How many stages are there?

8 stages which forms personality

What happens at each stage?

A psychosocial conflict must be resolved.

What happens if unresolved?

Leads to problems in later life.

Stage 1?

Trust vs mistrust (baby) - leads to trusting others

Stage 2

Autonomy vs shame (toddler) - independence

Stage 3

Initive vs guilt ( early childhood) - confidence

Stage 4

Industry vs inferiority (school age) - ahchievement

Stage 5

Identity vs confusion (adolscents) - sense of self

Stage 6

Intimacy vs isolation (young adult) - relationships

Stage 7

Generativity vs stagnation (adult)- contribution to society

Stage 8

Integrity vs despair (old age) - life sastification

Strenghs of psychosocial theory

• covers entire lifespan- infant- adulthood

• Emphasise social relationships

• Practical application e.g. useful in counselling and education

Limitations

• difficult to test scientifically

• May oversimplify human behaviour

Who challenged Bowlby?

Michael Rutter.

What did Rutter argue?

Multiple attachments are important.

What did Rutter find?

Behaviour improves in stable environments.

Conclusion?

Family environment causes behaviour, not just separation.

Who developed hierarchy of needs?

Abraham Maslow.

What is self-actualisation?

Reaching full potential.

Levels of hierarchy?

Physiological → Safety → Love/belonging → Esteem → Self-actualisation.

What happens if needs aren’t met?

Cannot progress → frustration/distress.

Strenghs of maslow hierachy of needs

• use in real life: shows how needs must be met in order

• Explains motivation and behaviour

• Positive view of humans: focuses on grow and improvment and encourages reaching self-actualization

• Structure: lower needs need to be met first

Weakness:

• not everyone wants/reaches self-actualization

• Not universal - cultural bias

• Ideas e.g. self esteem can differ across cultures

Who developed person-centred theory?

Carl Rogers.

What is self-concept?

How a person sees themselves.

What is ideal self?

How a person wants to be.

What is congruence?

Self-concept matches ideal self which leads to congruence and good mental health

What is incongruence?

Mismatch → psychological distress.

What is unconditional positive regard?

Acceptance without conditions their self concept develops positively and matches their ideal self

What are conditions of worth?

Acceptance based on meeting expectations so self concept becomes distorded

What is person-centred therapy?

Therapy using empathy, UPR and genuineness.

Strenghs of rogers:

• practical application - led to person centred therapy- widely used

• Focuses on free will and personal growth

• Individual takes responsibility for their own behaviour

Limitations on rogers

• self-concept hard to measure

• Lacks scientific evidnece

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and recognise others’ emotions.

1st component of EI

Self awareness:

• ability to recognise ones own emotions and how it affects behaviour

2nd component

Self-regulation:

• involves controlling/managing emotional responses e.g. staying calm in stressful situations

3rd component

Motivation:

• using emotions to achieve goas and remain foused despite challenges

4th component

Empathy:- ability to understand and share feelings of others

5th component

Socia skills:

• ability to build and maintain relationships, communicate effectively and work well with others

Strengths of EI

• practical application: widely used in schools and healthcare

• Imprves relationships and wellbeing

• EI can be developed e.g. social skills

Weakness of EI

• difficult to measure scientifically- reies on self report

• Lacks scientific basis

• Oversimplifies behaviour

What is social learning theory

• behaviour is learned through observing and imitating others

• Individuals learn new behaviour by watching role models in environment

• Recognises both observable behaviour and internal mental processes

Role of role models?

• It can be parents, peers, media figures who show behaviour by watching role models that can be copied

• Bandura argued individuals are more likely to imitate to imitate behaviour if role models is seen as similar attractive/ position of authority

• Behaviour can be learned through reinforcement: individual observes another person being rewarded for behaviour and more likely to imitate it

4 key processes for SLT

• attention: individua must notice behaviour for role models

• Retention: behaviour must be remmebered

• Reproduction: must be able to replicate behaviour

• Motivation: willingness to perform behaviour often influenced by rewards and consequences

Strengths of SLT:

• scientific evidence- BOBO doll

• Includes cognitive factors- internal mental processes - attention

• Practical application - used in schools

Weaknesses:

• ignores biological factors

• Not al behaviour is imitated

What is Cognitive theory?

• focuses on how individual processes information and this influences behaviour

• Suggest behaviour is shaped by internal mental processes e.g. thinking, perception attention

• Compares human ind to a computer - takes in information, processes it, sores it and retrives when needed.

Piaget?

• proposed individuas develop cognitive abilities through stages and build schemas

What are schemas

• Mental framework that help organise information

• When individuals encounters new information they use existing schemas to understand it and may adapt them to fit new experiences

• Process helps explain how learning and understanding develop overtime

Vgostsky?

• emphasied importance of social interaction in cognitive development

What did vgostsky introduce?

• concept of zone proximal development

• It is the difference between what an individual can do alone and what they achieve with help from more knowledgeable other

• Highlights importance of language in guiding thoughts and behaviour

Bruner?

• suggested learning occurs through discovery

• Individuals organise knowledge through different models of representation - including enactive (action-based), iconic (image based) and symbolic (language based)

Strengths of cognitive theory

• scientific and evidence based

• Explains internal mental processes

• Practical application - education, therapy

Weaknesses

• ignores emotions

• Reductionist - humans to computes

• May not reflect real life situations - lab settings