Psychodynamic approach

• Key assumptions (2)

  -behaviour is motivated by the unconscious mind

  -behaviour stems from early childhood experiences
• What are the 3 key features

  -tripartite structure of personality

  -defence mechanisms

  -psychosexual stages
• What is the tripartite structure of personality

  Id - pleasure (0-18 months) unconscious

  Ego - reality (18m-3 years) conscious

  Superego - morality (3-6 years) unconscious
• what Is the role of the unconscious

  To protect us from anxiety and conflict
• What does the ego do

  Manage conflict between the Id and superego

  Manage anxiety
• Define the defence mechanisms

  Denial - refusing to acknowledge reality

  Displacement - taking out your emotions on another object/person

  Repression - pushing down unpleasant memories to keep them away from consciousness
• Psychosexual stages


  Oral (0-1) pleasure from the mouth

  Anal (1-3) pleasure from the anus

  Phallic (3-5) pleasure from the genitals

  Latency (6-11)

  Genitals (12+) sexual desires
• Strength (1)


  Led to the development of psychoanalysis which is used to treat mild anxiety
• Weaknesses (2)


  -too much emphasis on the past

  -unfalsifiable (defence mechanisms can’t be seen)