The psychodynamic approach

• What is the psychodynamic approach?

  A way of explaining human behaviour by focusing on the role of dynamic processes in the unconscious mind and the role of early childhood experiences.
• what are the 3 parts of the mind according to the psychodynamic approach?

  The conscious (aware)

  The unconscious (drives,instincts and repressed memories)

  The preconscious (not aware but able to access memories)
• What is the id?

  what we are born with

  unconscious,selfish drives (hunger, thirst)

  works on the pleasure principle
• What is the ego?

  Developes after the id (2)

  The result of control from others

  Balances conflict from id and superego

  Works on the reality principle
• What is the superego?


  Our conscience

  Developes after the ego

  Punishes bad behaviour through guilt

  Developes from parental discipline (5)

  Works on the reality principle
• What are the 5 defence mechanisms?

  Repression

  Denial

  Projection

  Displacement

  Regression
• Case study of Little Hans

  5 year old boy developed a phobia of horses after seeing one collapse in the street.

  Freud believed this was a form of displacement and the boys repressed fear about his father was transferred to the horse.
• What is the Oedipus Complex?

  A stage of psychosexual development, typically occurring between the ages of 3 to 6, where children experience unconscious desires for the opposite-sex parent and feelings of rivalry with the same-sex parent.
• What is the Electra complex?

  Psychoanalytic theory concept describing a girl's unconscious sexual desire for her father and rivalry with her mother.
• What are Freud's psychosexual stages?

  Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital
• What is the anal psychosexual stage?

  Child becomes aware of the reality principle (ego) imposed by the parents

  Undergoes potty training and realises they have some control

  • age 1-3
  • Fixation: tidy/obsessive/mean or untidy and generous
• What is the oral psychosexual stage?

  Infant's focus on mouth for pleasure.

  • age 0-1
  • Fixation: overly trusting or dominating, smoking/alcohol use
• What is phallic psychosexual stage?

  Child goes through Oedipus complex

  Genitals

  superego developes

  • age: 3-5/6
  • Fixation: vanity, self obsession, inferiority,envy
• What is the phallic psychosexual stage?

  Hidden

  sexual energy becomes latent so the child can focus on the world around them and form friendships

  • age: 6-11
• What is the genital psychosexual stage?

  Forming heterosexual relationships

  Psychosexual energy in the genitals, to be directed to the formation of adult relationships

  • age: 12+
  • Fixation: well adjusted, mature, able to love