Psychodynamic Approach

• Psychodynamic Approach: Key Assumptions


  -The origins of behaviour are within the unconscious mind

  -Instincts/drives motivate behaviour

  -Early childhood experiences influence later behaviour
• Role of the Unconscious


  the part of the mind that we are unaware of but that influences behaviour
• Tripartite Structure of the Personality


  id, ego, superego
• Id


  Unconscious part of the mind. Irrational and selfish, dealing with feelings and needs. Seeks pleasure and does not care about reality. Demands immediate gratification. Develops from birth to 18 months.
• Super Ego


  Unconscious part of the mind. Operates on the 'morality principle', acting as a conscience, dictating what is right from wrong based on parental societal values. The superego's function is to control the Id's impulses. Formed between 3-6 years.
• Ego


  the rational, reality-oriented component of personality that imposes restrictions on the innate pleasure-seeking drives of the id. The Ego considers social norms and rules in deciding how to behave. Formed between 18 months and 3 years.
• Defence Mechanisms


  Unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id and the superego.
• Repression


  keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious
• Denial

  refusing to believe or even perceive painful realities
• Displacement


  expressing feelings that would be threatening if directed at the real target onto a less threatening substitute target
• Psychosexual Stages


  the childhood stages of development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) during which, according to Freud, the id's pleasure-seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones
• Oral


  Pleasure centres on the mouth- sucking, biting, chewing

  Formed at age 0-18 months
• Oral Influence on Behaviour


  More likely to chew on pens, bite their fingernails and smoke
• Anal


  (18-36 months) pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for control
• Anal Influence on Behaviour


  More likely to display personality characteristics like being very organised, neat and reluctant to spend money
• Phallic


  3-6 Years

  Pleasure is gained through the genitals

  Oedipus Complex (boys) - sexual feelings towards mother and experiences castration anxiety.

  Electra Complex (girls) - sexual feelings towards father and experiences penis envy
• Phallic Influence on Behaviour


  Homosexuality
• Latency


  Sexual energy is displaced throughout the body, calm time ind development and no conflicts to work through.
• Latency Influence on Behaviour


  No fixation occurs and no effect on adult personality
• Genital


  Pleasure is gained through genitals again. Remains this way for life.
• Genital Influence on Behaviour


  No fixation occurs and no effect on adult personality
• PA: Supported by Case Studies (Strength)


  Freud used cases studies to support his ideas such as 'Little Hans'. This shows that there is evidence to support Freud's ideas.
• PA: Practical Application (Strength)


  Freud's ideas led to the development of psychotherapy. This shows that the approach has used in the real world as some patients report the technique to be effective.
• PA: Evidence uses Case Studies (Weaknesses)


  The evidence lacks population validity as Freud based his theory on observations of middle-classed people and case studies only represent one individual. This means it is difficult to generalise from this sample to other people.
• PA: Ideas Cannot Be Tested Scientifically (Weaknesses)


  The Id, Ego and Superego are abstract concepts that cannot be measured. This means that there is a lack of objective evidence to support the theory.
• PA: Too Deterministic (Weaknesses)


  The approach has been criticised for suggesting that people are prisoners of their childhood experiences, unable to escape them and saying their lives will be determined by them. This means that individuals do not have free will or choice in their behaviour.