Psychodynamic approach

• What does the psychodynamic approach argue causes behavior?

  Unconscious drives in our mind
• What are the three components of personality according to the psychodynamic approach?

  ID, EGO, and SUPEREGO
• What is the role of the ID in personality?

  The pleasure part that demands instant gratification
• What does the SUPEREGO represent in personality?

  The morality part giving a sense of right and wrong
• What is the function of the EGO in the psychodynamic approach?

  To balance the demands of the ID and SUPEREGO
• What happens if there is too much stress on the EGO?

  It can use defense mechanisms to reduce anxiety
• Name one defense mechanism used by the EGO.

  Denial
• What is denial in the context of defense mechanisms?

  Refusing to accept reality
• What does displacement involve as a defense mechanism?

  Transferring anger/anxiety onto something else
• What is repression in the context of defense mechanisms?

  Locking a distressing memory away
• What are the psychosexual stages of development proposed by Freud?

  Oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages
• What occurs during the oral stage of psychosexual development?

  Focus on the mouth and sucking
• What is the phallic stage characterized by?

  Focus on genitals and the Oedipus or Electra complex
• What is the genital stage of development associated with?

  Puberty and consciousness of sexual desires
• What is the focus during the anal stage of development?

  Holding onto and pushing out feces
• What happens during the latency stage of psychosexual development?

  Earlier conflicts become repressed
• How can adult behavior be affected according to the psychodynamic approach?

  Due to fixations in psychosexual stages
• What might being stuck in the oral stage indicate about a person?

  They may be dependent on others and self-centered
• How does the psychodynamic approach suggest we change behavior in the present?

  • Resolve childhood conflicts
  • Use psychotherapy techniques
  • Dream analysis
  • Talking about feelings
• What is a strength of the psychodynamic approach regarding mental illnesses?

  It has led to useful treatments like psychotherapy
• What is one technique used in psychotherapy according to the psychodynamic approach?

  Free association
• Why might psychotherapy be considered better than biological treatments?

  It doesn't have harmful side effects
• What is a limitation of the psychodynamic approach regarding its evidence base?

  It is based on a handful of case studies
• Why can't we generalize findings from the case of Little Hans?

  It is not representative of other people's behavior
• What is a limitation of the psychodynamic approach regarding its concepts?

  They are hypothetical constructs and not falsifiable
• How does the psychodynamic approach compare to the biological approach in terms of evidence?

  It lacks scientific evidence compared to measurable biological factors
• Why is the psychodynamic approach often favored less than other approaches?

  Due to its lack of scientific evidence
• What is the Oedipus complex?


  When boys resent their father due to a fear of castration and favour mother due to sexual desire
• What is the Electra Complex?


  When girls resent their mother due to penis envy (think mother has castrated them) and favour father due to sexual desire
• Latency Stage


  The psychosexual stage from approximately 6 years to puberty, where the Oedipus complex is repressed and the child's energy is focused on learning, exploration, and social interaction outside the family.
• Latency Stage Characteristics


  Repression of Oedipus complex, energy redirection, no overt sexual behavior, play, and schooling.