Approaches in psych

• What is the psychodynamic approach in psychology?


  A psychological theory that emphasizes unconscious mental processes in shaping behavior and personality.
• Who originally developed the psychodynamic approach?

  Sigmund Freud
• What are the key points of the psychodynamic approach?


  • Focuses on unconscious thoughts and feelings
  • Emphasizes early childhood experiences
  • Explores internal conflicts
  • Aims to bring unconscious thoughts into conscious awareness
• What does the psychodynamic approach suggest about unconscious thoughts?


  They affect our behavior and are often rooted in childhood experiences.
• How might a psychodynamic therapist help someone who picks fights with their boss?


  By helping them realize that their boss reminds them of a strict parent.
• What is the unconscious mind according to the psychodynamic approach?


  A part of our mind that we're not aware of, but which influences our behavior.
• What does psychic determinism imply in the psychodynamic approach?


  It implies that nothing in mental life happens by chance; everything has a cause.
• What is intrapsychic conflict?


  Internal struggles between different parts of the mind.
• What is transference in the psychodynamic approach?


  The redirection of feelings about a person from the past onto someone in the present.
• What is free association?


  A technique where a person says whatever comes to mind without censoring.
• How does the scenario of Sarah feeling anxious around her new teacher illustrate transference?


  It shows her feelings about her strict aunt being redirected onto her new teacher.
• What are the three parts of Freud's structural model of the mind?


  Id, ego, and super-ego
• What does the id represent in Freud's model?


  The primitive and instinctive component of personality that seeks immediate gratification.
• How does the ego function in Freud's structural model?


  It mediates between the desires of the id and the super-ego, operating on the reality principle.
• What role does the super-ego play in personality according to Freud?


  It represents our internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment.
• In the example of Tom deciding to wait to eat cake, which part of Freud's model is represented by his desire for immediate gratification?


  The id
• In Tom's scenario, what does his decision to wait for a small slice of cake represent?


  The ego's mediation between the id's desires and the super-ego's standards.
• What are defense mechanisms in the psychodynamic approach?


  Unconscious psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety and protect the ego.
• What are some common defense mechanisms identified by Freud and Anna Freud?


  1. Repression
  2. Denial
  3. Projection
  4. Displacement
  5. Rationalization
  6. Sublimation
• In the scenario where Sarah believes her best friend's partner is attracted to her, which defense mechanism is she using?


  Projection
• What is the oral stage in Freud's psychosexual theory?


  The first stage focused on the mouth, where sucking and biting are key activities.
• What potential fixation can occur during the oral stage?


  Dependency or aggression
• What is the focus of the anal stage in Freud's psychosexual theory?


  Bowel and bladder control
• What potential fixation can occur during the anal stage?


  Obsessiveness or messiness
• What is the phallic stage in Freud's psychosexual theory?


  The stage focused on the genitals, involving the Oedipus/Electra complex.
• What potential fixation can occur during the phallic stage?


  Sexual issues and gender identity problems
• What happens during the latency stage of Freud's psychosexual theory?


  Sexual interests are repressed, focusing on other aspects of life like school and friendships.
• What is the genital stage in Freud's psychosexual theory?


  The stage where mature sexual interests develop.
• What is one strength of the psychodynamic approach?


  It emphasizes the importance of childhood experiences on adult behavior.
• What is one limitation of the psychodynamic approach?


  It lacks scientific evidence, making many concepts difficult to test empirically.
• How does the psychodynamic approach view free will?


  It suggests we have little free will in shaping our personalities.
• What is a criticism regarding gender bias in the psychodynamic approach?


  Some argue Freud's theories are male-centric.
• What cultural limitations exist in the psychodynamic approach?


  It is based primarily on observations of middle-class Viennese patients.
• What is the biggest challenge in studying the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy?


  The difficulty in empirically testing many psychodynamic concepts.
• How has the psychodynamic approach influenced modern therapies?


  Many modern therapies have roots in psychodynamic ideas.
• What is the focus of cognitive psychology?


  How people process, store, and use information
• How does cognitive psychology view the mind?


  As an information processing system, similar to a computer
• What are the key points of cognitive psychology's emergence?


  • Emerged in the 1950s and 1960s
  • Emphasizes mental processes like thinking, memory, and problem-solving
  • Considers observable behavior and internal mental states
• What does cognitive psychology emphasize in terms of mental processes?


  Thinking, memory, and problem-solving
• What is one key assumption of cognitive psychology regarding mental processes?


  Mental processes are measurable