Psychodynamic Approach

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering Freud's psychodynamic theory, including the levels of consciousness, personality structures, defence mechanisms, and psychosexual stages of development.

Structure of the psyche analogy

Freud used the iceberg analogy to illustrate the $3$ levels of consciousness: the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious.

Conscious

The smallest part of the psyche (tip of the iceberg) including thoughts, perceptions, and feelings that we are aware of at any given moment.

Preconscious

The part of the mind just below the surface containing memory and stored knowledge that can be easily accessed when needed.

Unconscious

The largest part of the mind containing biological drives, instincts, fEars, and repressed memories; it acts as the primary driving force behind behaviour.

Freudian slips

Slips of the tongue and indirect manifestations (like dreams) through which hidden influences of the unconscious are revealed.

Id

An innate component of personality present from birth to $18\,months$ that is entirely unconscious and driven by the pleasure principle.

Pleasure principle

The driving force of the id which focuses on the immediate gratification of basic drives and instincts.

Ego

Developing between $18\,months - 3\,years$, it follows the reality principle and acts as a mediator between the id, the superego, and external reality.

Reality principle

The operating guide of the ego which seeks to balance irrational id demands with moral constraints and reality.

Superego

Developing between $3-6\,years$ (phallic stage), it operates on the morality principle and represents internalised parental and societal values.

Morality principle

The basis for the superego, which acts as a conscience and can punish the ego through feelings of guilt.

Defence mechanisms

Unconscious processes that protect the ego from anxiety by providing compromise solutions and distorting or denying reality.

Repression

A defence mechanism involving pushing distressing memories into the unconscious, such as being unable to recall a traumatic childhood event.

Denial

A defence mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality, such as ignoring signs of illness and insisting they are fine.

Displacement

A defence mechanism involving redirecting emotions onto a safer target, such as shouting at a family member after a bad day at work.

Libido

Psychic energy from life and sexual instincts present from birth that focuses on different areas of the body during development.

Psychosexual stages

A series of $5$ stages (Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital) through which personality develops, each with a specific focus of pleasure and a conflict.

Fixation

Occurs when libido remains stuck in a psychosexual stage due to frustration or overindulgence, influencing adult personality.

Oral stage

Occurring from age $0-1\,year$, pleasure is focused on the mouth with the mother as the primary source of gratification.

Oral-dependent behaviours

Adult behaviours like smoking, overeating, or nail-biting that result from fixation during the oral stage.

Anal stage

Occurring between $1-3\,years$, pleasure is focused on the anus and conflict is centred on toilet training.

Anal-retentive

An adult personality characterized by being overly tidy and controlling, caused by strict toilet training.

Anal-expulsive

An adult personality characterized by being messy and disorganised, caused by lenient toilet training.

Phallic stage

Occurring between $3-6\,years$, pleasure is focused on the genitals and children experience the Oedipus or Electra complex.

Oedipus complex

A conflict in boys where they develop unconscious sexual desires for their mother and see their father as a rival, leading to castration anxiety.

Electra complex

A conflict in girls involving penis envy, desire for the father, and rivalry towards the mother.

Identification

The process of resolving the Phallic stage conflict where the child adopts the values of the same-sex parent, forming the superego.

Latency stage

Occurring between $6-11\,years$, where sexual drives are repressed and earlier conflicts remain hidden.

Genital stage

Beginning at age $12+\,years$, where sexual desires become conscious at puberty, ideally leading to mature relationships.