The psychodynamic approach

• Psychodynamic approach = a perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics), most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience
• Freud suggested that the part of our mind that we know about and are aware of (the conscious mind) is merely the 'tip of the iceberg'.
• Most of our mind is made up of the unconscious- a vast storehouse of biological drives and instincts that has a significant influence on our behaviour and personality.
• The unconscious mind also contains threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed, or locked away and forgotten. These can be accessed during dreams or through 'slips of tongue'.
• Just bubbling under the surface of our conscious mind is the preconscious which contains thoughts and memories which are not currently in conscious awareness but we can access if desired.
• The structure of personality:

  • Id
  • Ego
  • Superego
• The Id = operates on the pleasure principle- gets what it wants. Only the Id is present at birth. Throughout life the Id is entirely selfish and demands instant gratification of its needs.
• The Ego = works on the reality principle and is the mediator between the other two parts of the personality. The Ego develops around the age of 2 and its role is to reduce the conflict between the demands of the Id and Superego. It manages this by employing a number of defence mechanisms.
• The Superego = based on the morality principle it represents the moral standards of the child's same-sex parent and punishes the Ego for wrongdoing through guilt. It is our internalised sense of right and wrong. It is formed at the end of the phallic stage, around the age of 5.
• Freud claimed that child development occurred in five stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital). Each stage is marked by a different conflict that the child must resolve in order to progress successfully to the next stage.
• Any psychosexual conflict that is unresolved during the psychosexual stages leads to fixation where the child becomes 'stuck' and carries certain behaviours and conflicts associated with that stage through to adult life.
• Defence mechanisms are unconscious and ensure that the Ego is able to prevent us from being overwhelmed by temporary threats or traumas. However, they often involve some form of distortion of reality and as a long-term solution they are regarded as psychologically unhealthy and undesirable.
• The unconscious = the part of our mind that we are unaware of but which directs much of our behaviour
• Id = entirely unconscious, the Id is made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification
• Ego = the 'reality check' that balances the conflicting demands of the Id and the Superego
• Superego = the moralistic part of our personality which represents the ideal self- how we ought to be
• Defence mechanisms = unconscious strategies that the Ego uses to manage the conflict between the Id and Superego
• Psychosexual stages = five developmental stages that all children pass through. At each stage there is a different conflict, the outcome of which determines future development
• The psychodynamic approach introduced the idea oof psychotherapy. Psychoanalysis was the first to attempt to treat mental disorders psychologically rather than physically. It employed a range of techniques designed to access the unconscious. Psychoanalysis claims to help clients by bringing their repressed emotions into their conscious mind so they can be dealt with. Psychoanalysis is the forerunner to many modern-day 'talking therapies', such as counselling. This shows the value of the psychodynamic approach in creating a new approach to treatment.
• Although Freudian therapists have claimed success for many clients with mild neuroses, psychoanalysis is regarded as inappropriate for people experiencing more serious mental disorders, such as schizophrenia. Many of the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as paranoia and delusional thinking, mean that those with the disorder have lost their grip on reality and cannot articulate their thoughts in the way required by psychoanalysis. This suggests that Freudian therapy may not apply to all mental disorders.
• What is one strength of Freud's theory?

  Its ability to explain human behaviour
• Why is Freud's theory considered controversial?

  It challenges traditional views and has many critics
• What has Freud's theory influenced?

  Psychology
• What role did the psychodynamic approach play in psychology during the first half of the 20th century?

  It remained a key force alongside behaviourism
• What phenomena has the psychodynamic approach been used to explain?

  Personality development, abnormal behaviour, and gender identity
• What connection does the psychodynamic approach highlight?

  The connection between childhood experiences and later development
• What overall impact has the psychodynamic approach had on psychology?

  A positive impact
• What is a limitation of the psychodynamic approach?

  Much of it is untestable
• Who argued that the psychodynamic approach does not meet the scientific criterion of falsification?

  Karl Popper
• What does the psychodynamic approach lack according to Karl Popper?

  It is not open to empirical testing
• Why are many of Freud's concepts difficult to test?

  They occur at an unconscious level
• What is a consequence of Freud's ideas being based on the subjective study of single individuals?

  It makes it difficult to make universal claims about human behavior
• What does the term pseudoscientific imply about Freud's theory?

  It suggests it is not a real science
• What are the key criticisms of the psychodynamic approach?

  • Much of it is untestable
  • Does not meet the scientific criterion of falsification
  • Concepts occur at an unconscious level
  • Based on subjective study of single individuals
  • Considered pseudoscientific