Psychodynamic explanation of mental illness

• What is the key principle of the psychodynamic explanation of mental illness?

  Behaviour is caused by unconscious processes and childhood experiences.
• How do unresolved childhood conflicts relate to mental illness in the psychodynamic explanation?

  They contribute to the development of mental illness through unconscious processes.
• What are the three aspects of personality in the psychodynamic explanation?

  The id, the ego, and the superego.
• What drives the id according to the psychodynamic explanation?

  The pleasure principle.
• At what age does the superego develop?

  By age 5.
• What principle drives the ego?

  The reality principle.
• What is the role of the ego in the psychodynamic explanation?

  It attempts to balance the conflict and needs of the id and superego.
• What are ego defense mechanisms?

  They are strategies used by the ego to cope with anxiety and conflict.
• Why are defense mechanisms considered short-term solutions?

  They help the ego cope but do not resolve the underlying issues.
• What are three key defense mechanisms in the psychodynamic explanation of mental disorders?

  1. Repression: Pushing disturbing thoughts into the unconscious.
  2. Displacement: Shifting feelings onto a less threatening object.
  3. Regression: Returning to an earlier developmental stage.
• How does the psychodynamic explanation relate to phobias?

  The ego protects itself from anxiety by using defense mechanisms.
• What is the role of displacement in the context of phobias?

  It allows individuals to shift their true feelings of anxiety onto a less threatening object.
• How does Freud's study of Little Hans illustrate the psychodynamic explanation of phobias?

  It shows how fear of a father figure was displaced onto a horse.