psychodynamic theory.

• who made the theory?

  freud.
• a01 intro on theory!


  freud explains that the differing 3 factors of personality, as well as our state of consciousness and awareness will be the dependant cause as to whether our aggression will be used more or less.
• what are the 3 personalities?

  id, ego and superego.
• id - a01.


  pleasure principle. unconscious. since birth. controls all our energy that feeds our behaviours - this includes desires and urges that are socially unacceptable.
• ego - a01.


  logical and rational reasoning and occurs soon after birth. it is mostly conscious. it works for the id by not fulfilling desires directly but indirectly completing the urges.
• superego - a01.


  our moral compass that starts from around age 5. it is our concept of right and wrong. it battles the id by using guilt and shame.
• unconscious - a01.


  the unconscious is where our thoughts, memories and desires are kept unaware. they are hidden by the use of strong psychic energy to keep them hidden.
• unconscious - ao2 to aggression.


  the unconscious is a vital and powerful source where aggression is naturally created and kept. even if we don't think or do aggressive actions, they can happen purely by how strong the desires and urges are that are hidden.
• what does freud also say can be a factor to aggression?

  catharsis.
• catharsis - a01.


  freud states that aggression is an instinctive drive that can be achieved by catharsis - the expression of aggression. by doing so, catharsis allows for desires to be reduced and psychic energy released. if catharsis is prevented, this can cause large build up of desires. this will eventually cause an outburst, which can be inward (self harm) or outward.
• how can catharsis also be done?


  through watching - seeing someone else express aggression (like boxing) or displacement - taking it out of someone else.
• what does freud also propose about drives/instincts?

  there is also the eros and Thanatos.
• eros - a01/a02.


  eros is our life instinct. it is the idea that we have a naturally tendency to do stuff to enhance our own life. if eros is blocked, aggression becomes worse and more built up.
• thanatos - a01/a02.


  it is our death instinct and is the idea that part of us all have an instinct to take life which can even be our own.
• eros + thanatos. 


  the instincts are constantly at powerful conflict with one another, attempting to stop thanatos.
• evaluate using s.


  graham et al - supported use of catharsis. idea that ranting is better than venting as venting is reflection but ranting is uncontrollable and unthought of aggression.
• evaluate using c.


  bushman et al - used a large sample who got a bad essay grade. group with punchbag used it to express anger much more than control group who did have it. shows the idea that aggression is fed into and allowing someone to vent encourages aggression as it is accepting it (adding gasoline to the fire).
• evaluate using u.


  apply to catharsis and deconstructing anger - cbt.
• evaluate using t.


  not scientific at all. freud was a cocaine user.