The psychodynamic approach

• The psychodynamic approach involves:

  • The role of the unconscious
  • The structure of personality
  • Psychosexual stages
  • Defence mechanisms
• The structure of personality:

  • The Id - only in the unconscious. Contains the libido. Operates according to the pleasure principle
  • The Ego - mediates between the impulsive demands of the Id & the reality of the external world. Compromises between the Id & the Superego
  • The Superego - contains the conscience & the ego ideal
• The role of the unconscious (psychodynamic):

  • Unconscious mind controls many of our everyday activities
  • The unconscious mind can reveal itself through freudian slips
  • The unconscious contains traumatic memories
  • These memories may cause anxiety, therefore the mind uses defence mechanisms to prevent the person becoming aware of them
• Defence mechanisms (psychodynamic) :

  • Unconscious strategies that protect our conscious mind from anxiety
  • Repression - the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts
  • Denial - refusal to accept reality
  • Displacement - the redirecting of thoughts & feelings from original target onto an innocent object
• Psychosexual stages of development:

  • A child goes through a series of stages where the Id looks for tension release in different parts of the body
  • Oral: ( 0-2 years ) - mouth
  • Anal: ( 2-3 years )
  • Phallic: ( 3-6 years ) - gender differences emerge & the oedipus complex
  • Latency: (6-12 years ) - previous stages are repressed
  • Genital: ( 12 + years ) - puberty
  • Fixation - failure to resolve a stage leads to fixation & shows itself in adults
• The psychodynamic approach AO3:

  • ✅ Real world applications - development of psychoanalysis : the first talking therapy. Free association ( client says whatever comes to mind ) & dream analysis are still used - increases ecological validity
  • ❌ Research methodology - support comes from case studies which can't be generalised. Concepts cannot be directly observed - decreases scientific credability
  • ❌ Gender biased - androcentric - devalued women
  • ❌ Psychic determinism - ignores free will, all behaviour is caused by unconscious forces & childhood experiences - too simplistic
• The psychodynamic approach AO3:

  • ✅ Real World applications
  • ❌ Research methodology
  • ❌ Gender biased
  • ❌ Psychic determinism