Psychodynamic

• Psychodynamic Approach: The idea that our unconscious mind is the source of our behavior and thoughts.

  Assumptions:

  • Early childhood determines adult personality both normal and abnormal
  • The unconscious is an important force in determining behavior
• Psyc Approach- Role of the unconscious

  • Conscious - Small amount of mental activity we know about
  • Preconscious - Just bubbling under the surface of the conscious mind. Includes thoughts or ideas we may become aware of during dreams or slips of tounges
  • Unconscious - Things we are unaware of Biological drives and instincts that influence our behavior and personality. It also includes repressed memories.
• How many stages of development does Freud propose in his psychosexual theory?

  Five stages
• What is the underlying drive in Freud's psychosexual stages of development?

  The underlying drive is sexual in nature
• What happens if a conflict in any of the psychosexual stages is unresolved?

  It leads to a fixation that is carried into adult life
• What are the five psychosexual stages of development according to Freud?

  1. Oral (0-18 months)
  2. Anal (18-36 months)
  3. Phallic (3-6 years)
  4. Latent (Puberty)
  5. Genital (puberty onwards)
• What is the age range for the oral stage of development?

  0-18 months
• What is the primary source of gratification during the oral stage?

  The greatest source of gratification is sucking
• What are the fixations associated with the oral stage?

  Smoking, biting nails, sarcasm
• What is the age range for the anal stage of development?

  18-36 months
• What provides pleasurable stimulation during the anal stage?

  The anus provides a major source of pleasurable stimulation
• What is the pleasure associated with during the anal stage?

  There is pleasure in achieving control over the body
• What are the two types of fixations associated with the anal stage?

  Anal retentive (perfectionist) and anal expulsive (messy)
• What is the age range for the phallic stage of development?

  
  

  3-6 years
• What is the source of pleasure during the phallic stage?

  The source of pleasure is the genitals
• What do children develop during the phallic stage regarding their parents?

  Children develop a strong attachment to the opposite sex parent
• What is the fixation associated with the phallic stage?

  Phallic personality: Narcissistic, Reckless
• What is the stage of development that occurs during puberty?

  Latent stage
• What happens to the child's energies during the latent stage?

  Energies are channeled to areas of development
• What is the age range for the genital stage of development?

  Puberty onwards
• What is the primary interest during the genital stage?

  Interest in the opposite sex
• What is the fixation associated with the genital stage?

  Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
• Psych approach - Defence mechanisms

  the ego uses defense mechanisms to help reduce conflict between the Id and the superego. They are unconscious and prevent us from being overwhelmed by temporary threats or traumas. It involves distortion of reality and can be unhealthy as a long-term solution.

  • Displacement -> Transferring feelings from the true source of distress onto a substitute target.
  • Denial -> Refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality,
  • Repression -> Forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious
• Psych approach - The structure of the personality.

  • ID -> Develops first from birth. It operates on the pleasure principles meaning it is driven to satisfy desire without reference to reality.
  • Ego -> Develops at age 2. This helps us realize we cannot have everything we want meaning it works on the reality principle. It finds a way to satisfy desires in a socially acceptable way.
  • Superegp -> Develops at age 3. It works on the morality principle: and incorporates parental and social standards of morality. Allows us to experience feelings of guilt and remorse.
• Psych Approach - Evaluation

  Weakness

  • The evidence is mostly case studies. There is only one case study and Freud's interpretations are highly subjective. (Idiographic)
  • Freud's concepts are difficult to test (falsification). Does not meet the falsification criterion meaning it isn't open to empirical testing. The reliability is questionable as it isn't scientific.
• Psych approach- Evaluation

  Strengths

  • Useful practical applications in terms of therapy. Psychoanalysis -techniques used to access the unconscious. Meaning high ecological validity.
  • Evidence from clinical cases supports Freud's ideas. -> Little Hans: Phobia of horses was the displacement of his fear pf castration during the Oedipus complex.