Psychodynamic Approach

What theories does the psychodynamic approach include?

any theory that emphasizes individual development as a result of internal drives

What does it state shapes the conscious mind and our personalities?

the unconscious mind and early childhood development

What did Sigmund Freud argue ?

that psychological factors, along with our unconscious minds, control our behave

What does it mean by psychological factors (example)?

basic instincts and needs

What does this approach also suggest is a result of our individual development?

our internal drives

What is “The Unconscious Mind”?

a part of out mind that is inaccessible to conscious thought but still affects our behaviour

What are most of our actions a result of?

the unconscious mind

3 examples of what the unconscious mind is revealed through?

slips of the togue, creativity, neurotic symptoms

What are slips of the tongue sometimes known as?

Freudian slip

What is the mind split into?

3 structures

What is the structure of the mind being divided into 3 structures called?

The Tripartite of Personality

What are the three structures the mind is divided into?

The Id, The Ego and The Superego

What is the relationship between each of these structures like?

each needs gratification but is in conflict with the other two

The Id: Where does it solely operate?

in the unconscious

The Id: What does it contain?

the libido

The Id: what does it work according to?

the pleasure principal

The Id: what does it demand?

immediate gratification - regardless of circumstances

The Id: key feature to describe it?

impulsive

The Ego: What does it mediate between?

the demands of id and reality

The Ego: what does it work according to?

the reality principle

The Ego: What does it balance?

the id and the superego - to keep our behaviour in line

The Ego: where does it exist?

in both the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind

The Ego: when does it develop?

develops in the first 3 years after birth

The Superego: Where is it found in the mind?

unconscious and conscious

The Superego: what are the two sections that it is split into?

conscience and ego-ideal

The Superego: what does it take into consideration?

our morals - involved in making us feel guilty

The Superego: when does it develop?

around four to five years of age

The Superego: Who are the ideas about how to behave adopted from that it includes?

ideas about how to behave from our parents

The Superego - conscience: What is it an internalisation of?

society’s rules

The Superego - conscience: what does it decide?

which behaviours are permissible

The Superego - conscience: what does it cause when rules are broken?

feeling of guilt

The Superego - Ego-ideal: what is it?

what we strive to be

The Superego - Ego-ideal: what is it determined by?

by standards of good behaviour

The Superego - Ego-ideal: what is it usually set by?

parents

The Superego - Ego-ideal: a key word to describe it?

moralistic

What represents the different levels of consciousness?

the id, ego and superego

What does the id, ego and superego govern?

the way we think and act

What did Freud believe was in constant conflict?

the levels of consciousness - particularly the id and superego

Why is the id and superego in constant conflict?

the id wants instant satisfaction whilst the superego tries to impose morals

What can this conflict cause?

anxiety

Whose role is it to reduce this anxiety?

the ego’s - by mediating between the id and superego

What does the ego use to reduce this anxiety?

defence mechanisms

Are defence mechanisms unconscious or conscious?

they operate unconsciously

The three defence mechanisms?

repression, denial, displacement

Defence mechanisms: when are they used?

when we are unable to deal with a situation rationally

Defence mechanisms: What do they distort?

reality

Defence mechanisms: what do they reduce?

anxiety

Defence mechanisms: what do they prevent us from feeling?

us from feeling overwhelmed

Defence mechanisms: what do they stop?

unpleasant thoughts and feelings

Defence mechanisms - repression: what is it?

the unconscious blocking of unacceptable memories, thoughts and feelings (stops them from becoming conscious)

Defence mechanisms - repression: however what do these repressed memories, thoughts or feelings still influence?

continue to influence behaviour without the individual being aware

Defence mechanisms - repression: example of a repressed memory still having an unconscious impact on a person?

being abused as a child could lead to them struggling to form relationships in adult life

Defence mechanisms - denial: What is it?

the refusal to accept reality

Defence mechanisms - denial: what does it allow people to avoid?

avoid having to deal with painful feeling associated with an event or characteristic about yourself

Defence mechanisms - denial: what does it lead to acting as if?

an event hasn’t happened or a characteristic is not an accurate description of yourself

Defence mechanisms - denial: Example of someone experiencing denial?

being in denial about being an alcoholic - despite being arrested multiple times for being drunk and disorderly

Defence mechanisms - displacement: what is it?

redirecting thoughts and feelings (usually hostile)

Defence mechanisms - displacement: when does this happen?

when we are unable to express our feelings in the situation that caused them

Defence mechanisms - displacement: what does it allow us to vent?

hostility - but is usually reapplied

Defence mechanisms - displacement: example?

starting an argument with a family member when you are actually angry with your friends

Psychosexual stages of development: What is the driving force behind each stage’s development?

the need to express sexual energy

Psychosexual stages of development: what do we experience tension due to?

build up of s*xual energy

Psychosexual stages of development: where does pleasure come from?

discharging s*xual energy

Psychosexual stages of development: what affects how much pleasure is obtained through a certain type of the body?

how parents raise a child

Psychosexual stages of development: what happens if a child doesn’t receive enough, or too much, pleasure during a stage of development?

they will become fixated at that stage

Psychosexual stages of development: examples of a response to fixation on the oral stage later in life?

nail biting, smoking or abnormal eating behaviours

Psychosexual stages of development: example of a way parents raise a child?

how strict they are when potty training, and what type of role model they are?

Psychosexual stages of development: the stages (5)?

Oral stage, Anal stage, Phallic stage, Latent stage and Genital stage

Oral stage: how old?

0-2 years

Oral stage: what is the focal point for sensation?

mouth

Oral stage: what does the child express s*xual energy through?

the mouth

Oral stage: what is developed?

the Id

Oral stage: examples of what fixation in this stage leads to (3)?

biting fingernails, smoking and over/undereating

Anal stage: what years?

2-3 years old

Anal stage: what is the focal point for sensation?

Anus

Anal stage: what develops?

ego

Anal stage: what do children become aware of?

reality

Anal stage: what happens to children in this stage?

they are potty trained

Anal stage: through potty training - what are they learning to control?

the expulsion of bodily waste

Anal stage: what can fixation lead to here if toilet training is too strict?

anal retention

Anal stage: what can Anal retention lead to?

obsessiveness and perfection

Anal stage: what can fixation lead to here if toilet training is not strict enough?

anal expulsion

Anal stage: what can anal expulsion lead to?

messiness and thoughtlessness

Phallic stage: when does it occur?

3-6 years

Phallic stage: what is the focal point for sensation?

genitals

Phallic stage: what complex do children experience here?

the Oedipus complex

Phallic stage: what do male children unconsciously want at this stage?

unconsciously sexually desire their mothers and want to get rid of their father

Phallic stage: what do boys then experience as a punishment from their father?

castration anxiety

Phallic stage: what do boys do in an attempt to resolve their castration anxiety?

identify with their father, and internalise their father’s morals

Phallic stage: what develops during this stage?

superego

Phallic stage: what does fixation in this stage represent?

narcissism, recklessness and sociopathy

Latent stage: when does this stage occur?

from 6-12 years old

Latent stage: what do children develop?

a mastery of the world around them

Latent stage: what happens to any unresolved conflicts?

they are repressed

Latent stage: what does this repression and stage lead to?

children not remembering much of their childhood

Genital stage: when does this occur?

from 12 years upwards

Genital stage: what becomes conscious?

sexual desire

Genital stage: where is the sexual energy fixated?

the genitals

Genital stage: what does this stage eventually lead to?

sexual intercourse and the beginnings of adult life

Genital stage: what does failure here lead to?

difficulty in forming relationships with others