Psychodynamic Approach

• Briefly evaluate defence mechanisms as a way of explaining human behaviour

  Weaknesses - lack of falsifiability since defence mechanisms are unconscious processes - they cannot be studied directly. They can only be inferred from behaviour or from reported thoughts or experiences.

  Strengths - intuitive appeal - most people can appreciate and understand the ideas of denial, repression and displacement
• Describe the structure of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach

  The personality is made of three parts: the ID, the Ego and the Superego. The ID is the unconscious pleasure principle, and it focuses on the self. It is irrational and emotional, dealing with feelings and needs to seek pleasure. The ego is the reality principle, balancing the needs of the ID and the Superego - it is the rational part of the mind and works consciously. The Superego is the unconscious morality principle, acting as the conscience or moral guide based on moral and societal values
• Outline the Psychodynamic Approach

  • Majority of mind is unconscious - biological drives and instincts. Contains disturbing memories that have been repressed or forgotten
  • Tripartite structure. ID is pleasure principle, seeks instant gratification. Ego is reality principle, aims to mediate between ID and Superego. Satisfies both. Superego is morality principle and punishes ego with guilt and rewards with pride
  • Psychosexual stages - oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital. Series of conflicts that must be resolved to pass each stage. Unresolved conflict leads to fixation in adult life
• Evaluate the psychodynamic approach

  • high explanatory power that had a huge influence on western psychology. It drew attention to the importance of childhood in adult psychology.
  • Practical applications e.g. psychoanalysis to treat disorders
  • Lack of falsifiability as it is not open to empirical testing and its core concepts are abstract and untestable.
  • Based on freud's own single case studies - researcher bias and difficult to generalise