Pyschodynamic

• Psychodynamic:

  • Originated by Freud
  • believed that unconscious repressed thoughts motivate behaviour
• The Role of the Unconscious:

  • It is believed that our everyday behaviour comes from the unconscious mind
  • This is presented through slips of the tongue.
  • Our Conscious Mind is only the "Tip of the Iceberg". Our unconscious mind is where everything mostly occurs
• Unconscious Mind:

  • Threating and Disturbing Memories
  • Our Drives and Instincts

  Preconscious Mind:

  • Lies between the conscious and unconscious mind. Includes thoughts and ideas which we become aware of during dreams
• Structure of the Personality:

  • Freud argued that our personalities are compromised of 3 parts that develop during childhood:

  1. ID - instincts, unconscious, selfish
  2. EGO - conscious, rational
  3. SUPEREGO - Morality Principle

  If we are unable to balance these , we develop abnormal behaviour.
• ID

  • Pleasure Principle
  • Present at Birth
  • Contains sexual and aggressive instincts
  • Demands Immediate Satisfaction and is completely selfish
  • If a person ID is too strong they are seen as delinquent, antisocial or self centred (e.g. Thieves )
• EGO

  • Based on the reality principle
  • Develops around the age of 2 in anal stage
  • Is the conscious , rational part in the mind
  • The normal person will have a " strong ego"
• SUPEREGO

  • Based on Morality Principe
  • Develops around 5 in phallic stage
  • Children start to know what's " Right and Wrong"
  • Punishes the wrongdoings through experiencing guilt
• Defence Mechanisms

  • Anxiety can weaken the ego which is bad as it breaks the bridge between the ID and Superego
  • Defence Mechanisms help the ego to balance the ID and Superego
  • Defence Mechanisms are usually unconscious and ensure that the Ego prevent us becoming concerned by temporary threats or traumas.
  • ! However the mechanism shouldn't be used as a long - term solution as it can distort reality
• Examples of Defence Mechanisms:

  1. Repression - forcing a memory out of the mind
  2. Denial - refusing to accept aspects of reality
  3. Displacement - Transferring feelings onto a substitute target
• Oedipus and Electra Complex ( Phallic Stage )

  • Oedipus - the BOY section
  • Electra - the GIRL section