Describe 2 assumptions of psychodynamic approach

• Point (early childhood)

  one assumption of the psychodynamic approach is that adult personality is shaped by childhood experiences
• Evidence (early childhood)

  Freud proposed that personality develops through five different psychosexual stages, where the libido (sexual energy) is focused on different parts of the body. If a child experiences frustration or overindulgence during a stage, they may become fixated, leading to long-term personality traits. For example, fixation at the oral stage (0-18 months) due to overindulgence, such as prolonged breastfeeding, may result in traits like gullibility and neediness in adulthood
• Explain (early childhood)

  This explains how unresolved issues in early childhood can carry through unto adult behaviour and mental health
• Link (early childhood)

  This assumption highlights the belief that early life events and how they are resolved play a key role in shaping later behaviour, a central idea of the psychodynamic approach
• point (tripartite personality)

  A second assumption is that the mind is structured into three parts: the id, ego, and superego
• Evidence (tripartite personality)

  The id is present from birth and operates on the pleasure principle, seeking instant gratification. the ego develops around age 2 and acts on the reality principle, balancing the unrealistic demands of the id with the real world. The superego emerges around age 4 and represents our moral conscience, learned through identification with parents
• Explain (tripartite personality)

  These components are often in conflict - for example, the id may desire something socially unacceptable, while the superego imposes guilt, and the ego must mediate between them
• Link (tripartite personality)

  This dynamic interaction shapes our behaviour and reflects Freud’s belief that unconscious psychological forces are constantly influencing how we act