AO1 of psychodynamic approach

• What does the psychodynamic approach assume about human behavior?

  It assumes that human behavior is the result of early childhood experience and unconscious thoughts and feelings.
• Who is the founder of the psychodynamic approach to psychology?

  Sigmund Freud
• How did Freud describe the relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind?

  He suggested that the conscious mind is just the "tip of the iceberg" and the unconscious mind is much larger and hidden.
• What are 'Freudian slips' according to Freud?

  They are everyday actions and behaviors that reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings.
• What does Freud believe the mind does to traumatic memories?


  He believed the mind actively prevents traumatic memories from reaching conscious awareness using defense mechanisms.
• What are the three parts of Freud's structure of personality?

  • The Id
  • The Ego
  • The Superego
• What is the primary function of the Id?

  The Id operates on the pleasure principle and demands immediate gratification.
• How does the Ego function in Freud's model of personality?

  The Ego mediates between the demands of the Id and the moralistic demands of the Superego.
• At what age does the Ego develop according to Freud?

  Around the age of 2 years.
• What does the Superego represent in Freud's theory?

  The Superego represents our internalized idea of right or wrong and moral standards.
• At what age does the Superego develop?

  Around the age of 4 or 5 years.
• What are the three defense mechanisms described by Freud?

  • Repression: Motivated forgetting of anxiety-provoking thoughts.
  • Displacement: Transferring feelings from a true source to a substitute target.
  • Denial: Refusing to believe that a threatening situation is occurring.
• What is repression in the context of defense mechanisms?

  Repression is the motivated forgetting of anxiety-provoking thoughts pushed into the unconscious mind.
• What does displacement involve according to Freud?

  Displacement involves transferring feelings from a true source of distress to a substitute target.
• What is denial as a defense mechanism?

  Denial is the refusal to believe that a threatening situation is occurring.
• What are the psychosexual stages of personality development according to Freud?

  1. Oral Stage (0-1 year)

  • Focus on the mouth; consequences include oral fixation.

  1. Anal Stage (1-3 years)

  • Focus on the anus; consequences include anal-retentive or anal-expulsive traits.

  1. Phallic Stage (3-5/6 years)

  • Oedipus and Electra complexes; consequences include phallic personality traits.

  1. Latency Stage (5/6 years-puberty)

  • Sexual urges are dormant.

  1. Genital Stage (puberty onwards)

  • Sexual desires become conscious.
• What is the focus of pleasure during the Oral Stage?

  The focus of pleasure is on the mouth, with sucking and biting as common activities.
• What can unresolved conflict during the Anal Stage lead to?

  It can lead to being either anally retentive (perfectionist) or anally expulsive (disorganized).
• What occurs during the Phallic Stage according to Freud?

  The Oedipus and Electra complexes occur, where children desire their opposite-sex parent and view the same-sex parent as a rival.
• What is the consequence of unresolved conflict during the Phallic Stage?

  It can lead to a phallic personality, which may be narcissistic or reckless.
• What happens during the Latency Stage?

  Sexual urges lay dormant, and children are generally too engrossed with play for anything else.
• What is the focus of the Genital Stage?

  Sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty.
• What difficulties can arise from unresolved conflicts in psychosexual stages?

  They can lead to behavioral difficulties and fixations that affect personality in later life.