Psychodynamic

• What is a key assumption of the Psychodynamic Approach?

  A person's unconscious is important in behavior
• How do childhood experiences affect adult development according to Freud?

  Distressing events may become unconscious and cause abnormal behaviors
• What are the three levels of the mind according to Freud?

  Conscious, preconscious, subconscious
• What does the conscious mind consist of?

  Things we are aware of
• What is the preconscious mind?

  Anything that could be brought into conscious awareness
• What is the subconscious (unconscious) mind?

  Things outside of our awareness that are unacceptable
• What are the three components of personality according to Freud?

  ID, EGO, SUPEREGO
• What principle does the ID operate on?

  Pleasure principle
• When is the ID present?

  At birth
• What does the EGO balance?

  The ID and SUPEREGO
• What principle does the SUPEREGO operate on?

  Morality principle
• What happens when the ID and SUPEREGO are in conflict?

  Abnormal behavior results, like anxiety disorders
• What is a sign of fixation at the oral stage?

  Smoking or overeating
• What is the primary source of pleasure in the Anal Stage?

  Membranes of the anal region
• What major demand occurs during the Anal Stage?

  Toilet training
• What is a sign of fixation at the Anal Stage?

  Being overly messy or anally retentive
• What develops during the Anal Stage?

  The Ego starts to develop
• What is the primary source of pleasure in the Phallic Stage?

  The genitals
• What major conflict occurs during the Phallic Stage?

  The Oedipus complex
• What anxiety develops during the Phallic Stage?

  Castration anxiety
• What happens during the Latency Stage?

  Development of other activities reduces sexual focus
• At what age does the Genital Stage start?

  12 years onwards
• What is the primary source of pleasure in the Genital Stage?

  Pursuit of heterosexual relationships
• What can fixation at earlier stages lead to?

  Sexual perversions may develop
• What does Freud say about anxiety?

  It signals the ego's survival is threatened
• What are defense mechanisms according to Freud?

  Unconscious mechanisms to reduce anxiety
• What is repression as a defense mechanism?

  Forcing traumatic memories into the unconscious
• How can repressed memories still affect behavior?

  They can break through and affect behavior
• What is denial as a defense mechanism?

  Denying an event to avoid anxiety
• How might a drug addict use denial?

  Claiming they are in control of their addiction
• What is displacement as a defense mechanism?

  Redirecting emotion to an easier target
• How might someone use displacement in a workplace scenario?

  Shouting at an intern instead of the boss
• What can cause fixation at a psychosexual stage?

  Frustration or overindulgence of needs
• What is a criticism of Freud's approach regarding gender?

  It is considered androcentric
• What do critics say about the scientific validity of Freud's theory?

  It lacks scientific evidence and falsifiability
• What do Fisher and Greenberg argue about Freud's theory?

  Experimental studies compare well with other psychology areas
• What did Fisher and Greenberg find support for?

  The existence of unconscious motivation and defense mechanisms
• What are the psychosexual stages of development according to Freud?

  1. Oral Stage (0-1 year)

  • Pleasure from the mouth
  • Fixation: smoking, overeating

  1. Anal Stage (1-3 years)

  • Pleasure from anal region
  • Major demand: toilet training
  • Fixation: messy or anally retentive

  1. Phallic Stage (3-6 years)

  • Pleasure from genitals
  • Major conflict: Oedipus complex
  • Fixation: masturbation

  1. Latency Stage (6-12 years)

  • Focus on other activities
  • Previous conflicts repressed

  1. Genital Stage (12+ years)

  • Pleasure from heterosexual relationships
  • Fixation may lead to sexual perversions
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Psychodynamic Approach?

  Strengths:

  • Emphasizes the role of the unconscious
  • Highlights childhood experiences in development

  Weaknesses:

  • Considered androcentric
  • Lacks scientific evidence and falsifiability
• How do defense mechanisms function in the Psychodynamic Approach?

  • Unconscious strategies to reduce anxiety
  • Examples include:
  • Repression: forcing memories into the unconscious
  • Denial: refusing to accept reality
  • Displacement: redirecting emotions to easier targets