Assumptions

• What are the assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?


  Behaviour can be explained by the tripartite model of personality.

  Behaviour can be explained by the unconscious mind.

  Behaviour is influenced by childhood experiences.
• Behaviour can be explained by the tripartite model of personality

  Id- Pleasure principle. Demands instant gratification. It’s self-serving. The infant is pure id.

  Ego- Reality principle. Deals with the competing demands of the id and superego.

  Superego- Morality principle. Children learn to internalise parental and societal values. Superego tells the ego when it’s falling short of the ego ideal (what one wants to become). Ego ideal derives from positive role models presented to the child. Conscience is an internalisation of punishments & warnings.
• Consequences of a weak ego


  Dominant id- selfish, demanding, impulsive, anger outbursts, low self-control.

  Dominant superego- submissive, honest, guilty, gullible.
• What are the different levels of the unconscious?

  What we are currently aware of. Rational and logical thoughts and perceptions.

  Preconscious mind - what we could be conscious of if we tried (eg memories).

  Unconscious mind.
• Ego defence mechanisms 


  Ways that ego protects itself from unconscious thoughts and feelings that may cause stress if they became conscious.

  The ego uses these defences to deal with the stress caused by the conflicting demands of the id and superego.

  Repression, regression, displacement, projection.
• Repression


  Pushing bad experiences or negative emotions into the unconscious.
• Regression


  The abandonment of age appropriate coping strategies in favour of more childlike patterns of behaviour. It is retreating to a time when the person felt safe.
• Displacement

  Transferring undesirable impulses from one person to an object or another person.
• Projection

  Undesirable thoughts or emotions are attributed to someone else.
• Psychosexual stages

  Oral (0-1)

  Anal (1-3)

  Phallic (3-6)

  Latency (7-puberty)

  Genital (puberty-adolescence)
• Oral


  0-1

  Libido focus - mouth

  Part of personality - id

  Gives us the ability to understand that we cannot exercise full control over our environment.

  Overfed / weaned too late -> oral receptive -> optimistic, gullible, dependent, trusting.

  Kept waiting for food / weaned too early -> oral aggressive -> pessimistic, envious, aggressive.
• Anal


  1-3

  Part of personality - development of ego.

  Child learns to delay their gratification. Gives them the ability to deal with authority.

  Over indulged -> anal expulsive -> generous, disorganised, rebellious, careless.

  Frustration -> anal retentive -> orderly, stubborn, possessive.
• Phallic 


  3-6

  Part of personality - id & ego fully formed. Superego created at the end of this stage.

  Internalise what is right & wrong.
• Latency 


  7-puberty

  Gap between psychosexual stages. By now child has a well developed id, ego and superego.
• Genital


  Puberty -> adolescence

  Internal sexuality develops

  Genital character - well adjusted, mature, healthy sexual relationships