Psychodynamic

• What is the psychodynamic approach?


  The psychodynamic approach is a psychological perspective that focuses on unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping behavior and personality.
• What is the role of the unconscious ?


  The part of the mid that we are unaware of but which directs much of our behaviour.
• What is the Id?


  • The id is entirely unconscious, the id is made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification.
  • Works on pleasure principle
  • Id is selfish and demands gratification
• What is the ego?


  • The ego is a psychological concept referring to the conscious, rational part of the mind that mediates between the desires of the id and the constraints of the superego.
  • Works on reality principle
  • Manages by using defence mechanisms
• What is the superego?


  • The superego is the part of the psyche that represents the internalized moral standards and values of society.
  • Works on morality principle
  • Formed at end of phallic stage
• What is a defense mechanism?


  Unconscious strategy that the ego uses to manage conflict between the id and superego
• What are the psychosexual stages?


  Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital
• What is the oral stage and what is the consequence if not resolved?


  • 0-1 years
  • Oral stage: First stage of psychosexual development where pleasure is focused on the mouth.
  • Consequence: Fixation can lead to oral fixation in adulthood (e.g., overeating, smoking).
• What is the anal stage and what are the consequences if not resolved?


  • 1-3 years
  • Focus of pleasure in the anus
  • Either become anal retentive (perfectionist/ obsessive) or anal expulsive (thoughtless/messy)
• What is the phallic stage and what are the consequences if not resolved?

  • 3-6 yearsPhallic stage: Freudian psychosexual stage where focus is on genitalia. Consequences: Oedipus complex, phallic personality
• What is the phallic stage and what are the consequences if not resolved?


  • 3-6 years
  • Phallic stage: Freudian psychosexual stage where focus is on genitalia.
  • Consequences: Oedipus complex, phallic personality
• What is the genital stage and what are the consequences if not resolved?


  • Teen years
  • Where sexual desires become conscious during puberty
  • Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
• What are the 3 defense mechanisms?


  1. Repression 2. Displacement 3. Denial
• What is repression?


  Suppression or control of thoughts, feelings, or desires.
• What is denial? 


  Refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality.
• What is displacement?


  Transferring feeling from true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target
• AO3 How does the psychodynamic approach apply in real life?


  • Through psychotherapy
  • Freud brought psychoanalysis - first attempt to treat mental disorders
  • Shows value in creating a new approach to treatment
• AO3 COUNTER psychotherapy


  • regarded as inappropriate for severe mental disorders (schizophrenia)
  • makes them lose grip on reality
  • suggests Freudian treatment cant be applicable for all
• AO3 How does the psychodynamic approach explain human behaviour?


  • Had a huge influence on early psychology alongside behaviorism
  • Helped explain many concepts and develop origins
  • Overall positively impacted psychology
• AO3 How does the psychodynamic approach have untestable concepts?


  • Popper argued it doesn't meet criteria of falsification
  • Not open to empirical testing and many concepts occur at an unconcious level
  • Ideas based on subjective measures (Little Hans)
  • Suggests the theory is pseudoscientific