Psychodynamic

• Assumptions:

  1.Behaviour is the result of early childhood experiences.

  2.Behaviour is a product of unconscious thoughts and internal conflicts of the 3 parts of the mind.

   
• Little Hans: 3-year-old with a phobia of horses
• Around the age of 3-5 Hans became interested in his genitalia and those of other animals/humans, indicating the phallic stage.
• When Hans's sister was born, he showed great resentment towards her, which could be interpreted as evidence of affection towards his mother and conflict/rivalry against others.
• Freud/Dad stated that Hans's fear of horses was symbolic of his father, particularly those with black around their mouth, which could be interpreted as a symbol of Dad's moustache.
• Hans had a series of fantasies, including the imaginary children fantasy where he was the father, and his mother was the mother of his children, which represented satisfying the Oedipus complex.
• Hans finally had a two-plumber fantasy where a plumber came to remove his genitals and give him a bigger one, symbolizing the resolution of the Oedipus complex.
• Psychologists treat mental disorders through psychotherapy, an example of which is Little Hans' phobia of horses resolved through the Oedipus complex after discussions with his father.
• Psychologists prioritise childhood experiences on our development and behaviours, as issues during psychosexual stages can lead to fixation, and difficulties with personality development can produce defence mechanisms.
• Freud's concepts such as the unconscious, ID, ego etc., cannot be scientifically tested and therefore cannot be proven to be right or wrong.
• Freud focused his research on the use of case studies, interviews etc., which are subjective and open to biased interpretations which could have favoured and supported his concepts.
• Determinism – the unconscious and aggressive/sexual impulses are the determine our behaviour.

  Mostly holism– not completely holistic but it does consider the role of biology and our psychology/environment making it more holistic.  

  Not scientific – concepts of ‘ID’ & unconscious cannot be scientifically tested.
• Conscious, pre-conscious, unconscious, sexual/aggressive impulses, ID, ego, superego, childhood, defence mechanisms, repression, denial, displacement, projection, fixation, psychosexual stages, oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital, Oedipus complex, Electra complex, symbolic, psychotherapy