Psychodynamic Approach

• Who is the pioneer of the Psychodynamic Approach?

  Sigmund Freud
• What are the main beliefs of the Psychodynamic Approach regarding behavior?

  • Influenced by different levels of consciousness
  • Involves three parts of the mind
  • Progress through psychosexual stages
• What are the three levels of consciousness in the Psychodynamic Approach?

  Conscious, preconscious, and unconscious
• What does the conscious level contain?

  All of the mental processes of which we are aware
• What is contained in the preconscious level?

  Memories that can be recalled to consciousness
• What does the unconscious level contain?

  Biologically based instincts, especially urges for sex and aggression
• What are manifests in the context of the Psychodynamic Approach?

  Thoughts and behaviors you can see (conscious)
• What are latent processes?

  What drives manifests (unconscious)
• How can we access our unconscious thoughts?

  • Free associations: just talk
  • Dream analysis: access to mind uncensored
  • Freudian slip: revelations
• What is the id and when does it develop?

  The id is present from birth and works on the pleasure principle
• What is the function of the ego?

  The ego balances the wishes of the id and the superego
• When does the superego develop?

  The superego develops from 4-5 years
• What principle does the superego operate on?

  The morality principle
• How does the interaction of the id, ego, and superego affect personality?

  A dynamic interaction results in a healthy personality
• What can happen if the ego fails to balance the demands of the id and superego?

  It may result in mental disorders
• What are the defense mechanisms used by the ego?

  • Repression: Forcing distressing memories out of consciousness
  • Denial: Refusing to acknowledge reality
  • Displacement: Transferring feelings to a neutral target
• How can excessive use of defense mechanisms affect personality?

  It can lead to detachment from reality and mental disorders
• What are the strengths of defense mechanisms?

  • Intuitive appeal: Many appreciate the idea of DDR
  • Supported by case studies: E.g., repression of Dora
• What are the limitations of defense mechanisms?

  • Lack of testifiability/falsifiability: Unscientific
  • Evidence is mostly anecdotal and lacks empirical support
• What are the five psychosexual stages of development?

  1. Oral
  2. Anal
  3. Phallic
  4. Latent
  5. Genital
• What is fixation in the context of psychosexual stages?

  Unresolved conflict leads to the child remaining in that stage
• What are the key details and consequences of fixation for each psychosexual stage?

  • Oral (0-1): Id is dominant; fixation leads to oral character traits.
  • Anal (1-3): Pleasure from bowel control; fixation leads to anal retentive or expulsive traits.
  • Phallic (4-6): Important for gender identity; fixation leads to phallic character traits.
  • Latent (7-10): Not much happens; no fixation.
  • Genital (11+): Sexual urges become conscious; fixation leads to unsatisfactory relationships.
• What is the Oedipus Complex?

  Boys desire their mothers and feel jealousy towards their fathers
• What is the Electra Complex?

  Girls develop penis envy and desire their fathers
• What does the case of Little Hans illustrate?

  • Little Hans had a fear of horses linked to his anxiety about his father.
  • Freud interpreted this as a displacement of castration anxiety.
  • The horse symbolized Hans' unconscious fear of his father.
• What are the strengths of the Psychodynamic Approach?

  • Practical applications: Led to therapies like psychoanalysis.
  • Interactionist position: Acknowledges both nature and nurture in personality development.
• What are the limitations of the Psychodynamic Approach?

  • Many aspects are unfalsifiable and lack empirical evidence.
  • Described as deterministic, limiting free will in behavior.