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Assumption-childhood
Early childhood experiences are believed to be pivital in making us the person we are
What is the unconscious mind?
the driving force behind our behaviour. Tis means that we are driven by instinct to go through a series of psychosexual stages in development
What does it assume- 3 personality
We have 3 parts of our personality
ID
Ego
super-ego
THE ROLE OF THE UNCONSCIOUS
what metaphor did Freud use for the mind?
An iceberg to describe the structure
What is the conscious?
The part of the mind we are aware of- everyday thoughts and feelings
What is the preconscious?
Thoughts and memories not accessible at all times but easily recalled
What is the unconscious?
drives or instincts that motivate our behaviour and personality are in the unconscious and these are inaccessible. Traumatic or unpleasant memories from childhood are also believed to remain here, not accessible but driving behaviour
What is the ID?
Pleasure principle- the unconscious sex instincts (sex and aggression) which is innate. Seeks pleasure and is completely selfish
What is the ego?
āreality principleā develops between 18 months-3 years. It is the conscious/ preconscious, rational part of the personality. It is in touch with reality, goes between the demands of the ID and demands of the super-ego
The SUPER-EGO
āmorality principleā develops between ages 3-6
The unconscious/ preconscious
moral part concerned with right and wrong
Acts to internally punish and reward us.
Develops through process of socialisation.
What is a defence mechanism?
In order to balance id and superego and to protect itself
ego employs defence mechanisms.
Defence mechanisms detry or distort reality essential in protecting the ego from distress/ anxiety allowing the person to cope with life.
What are the 3 forms of defence mechanisms
Repression
Denial
Displacement
What is repression?
An unpleasant memory pushed into the unconscious mind where it is not accessible therefore it does not cause anxiety
What is repressions effect on behaviour
No recall of the memory
Does affect our behaviour in the unconscious mind
What is denial?
Refusing to accept the reality of an unpleasant situation. Reduces the anxiety the situation causes
What is the effect of denial on behaviour?
Saying that the situation isnāt bad when it is to try and avoid the anxiety surrounding it. Ignoring reality
What is displacement?
When you take your emotions out on someone who has not done anything else because of how you are feeling. Reduces anxiety because you are expressing the emotion
What is the effect of displacement on behaviour?
Screaming at someone for nothing very irritated
What did Freud propose about psychosexual stages?
That psychological development takes place in a series of fixed stages in childhood. Childhood is crucial to how we behave in the future.
What are the psychosexual phases? 5
Oral Stage
Anal stage
Phallic stage
Latency stage
Genital stage
When is the oral stage? What happens in it
Birth to 18 months
Mouth is the main focus of pleasure- tasting swallowing and sucking
successful= weaning
What is the fixation in the oral phase? (if it didnāt work) If denied? If indulged?
If denied: Needy, over-sensitive nail biter, smoker
If indulged: Sarcastic, verbally abusive
When is the Anal stage? What is it?
18 months- 3 years
Defaecation (pooping) is main source of pleasure
Successful potty trained
What happens if the child was denied in anal stage?
Very tidy or control freak
What if indulged in anal stage?
Generous and disorganised
When is the Phallic stage? What is it?
3-6 years
Focus of pleasure is in the genitals
Boys can experience Oedipus complex
What is the Oedipus complex? Phallic stage
Boy wants his mother as a āprimary love objectā
Can get jealous of father
Fears father knows this and will castrate him
Ends up seeking affection from father
What can happen is conflict in Phallic stage?
Reckless and narcissistic traits
When is the latency stage? What is it?
6- puberty
Sexual urges sublimated into sports and hobbies
Focus on development of same sex friendships
When is the genital stage? What is the genital stage?
Puberty into adulthood
Focuses on genitals and pleasures with a partner
Aim is to develop healthy adult relationships
Evaluation- strength- influence
A strength of Freuds approach is that it has been highly influential
First theorist to introduce the idea that mental health may be caused by psychological factors rather than physical
His ideas were developed by researchers like Bowlby
Strength- merit and validity
Used by some therapists to treat mental health issues.
Still use psychoanalysis techniques to access unconscious mind and encourage patients to talk about childhood experiences
Has been successful with some anxiety disorders
Suggests psychodynamic approach has validity and merit.
Limitation- unfalsifiable
Not open to empirical and scientific testing in the same way as other approaches.
Hard to prove/not prove
Impossible to test because they are in the unconscious
Unscientific so less credible
Limitation- ignoring current experiences
prioritises childhood experiences over current
Could be a current factor such as loss of job, heartbreak
Someone could be depressed because of that not childhood experiences
Does not take a holistic view
Note 
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