Psychodynamic approach

• Key assumptions 


  -not all mental activity is consciously accessible.

  -unconscious mental activity is the key determinate of how we behave.

  -Our personality is comprised of 3 dynamic components - tripartite structure - ID, ego and super ego.

  -Mental illness treated by addressing latent unconscious conflict.
• Role of the unconscious 


  -driving force behind our personality to do behaviour

  -Protects conscious self from anxiety, fear and trauma

  -Can develop through childhood
• Tripartite structure 


  -consists of ego, ID and superego

  -mental components are dynamic meaning they are fluid, flexible and drive behaviour.

  -each component has it's own distinct qualities.

  -experiences with caregivers can shape adult behaviour.
• The ID 


  -exists from birth and develops during the oral stage.

  -Drives to seek pleasure, is impulsive and primitive, no concept of real life and morality.

  -Operates unconsciously
• Ego 


  -Balances out the ID and superego

  -operates and deals with outside world of reality and consciously aware.
• Super-ego 


  -Opposite of ID

  -Operates according to 'morality principle' and helps act what's right and wrong.

  -It operates within the unconscious.
• Ego defence mechanisms 


  -Displacement: occurs when anger/frustration is transferred from the original source and redirected towards less threatening object or person.

  -Denial: refusal to accept reality, blocking external events from conscious awareness. People use denial in everyday life.

  -Repression: actively forcing trauma into the unconscious. They manifest themselves through human behaviour.
• Psychosexual stages of development:

  -Oral stage (0-18 months) mouth, lips and tounge become in the erogenous zone. Infants gain pleasure from things like sucking thumbs.

  -Anal stage (1.5-3 years) gains pleasure from expelling faeces and urine. Conflict during potty training. Anal fixation is too harsh/lenient.

  -Phallic stage (3-6 years) genitals become part of erogenous stage, become aware of sex differences. Boys/girls gain pleasure from genital stimulation.
• Psychosexual stages of development

  -Latency stage (6 years-puberty) is a period of repression of sexual desires and focus on non sexual pursuits like hobbies and schoolwork.

  -Genital stage (puberty-adulthood) develop normal relationship fixations.