psychodynamic perspective

• based on 3 principles

  1. we are strongly influenced by the structure and drives of our unconscious mind
  2. our development is affected by early relationships
  3. information in the unconscious can be found in how we express ourselves outwardly
• id = impulsive instinctive part of personality
• ego = rational conscious part that mediates between id and superego
• superego = moral conscience, internalised values from parents/society
• defence mechanisms

  • repression - blocking ideas from being considered
  • displacement - transfer of negative feelings
  • projection - association of negative emotions with other things
  • denial - avoid uncomfortable situations
• psychosexual stages of development - children progress through a series of stages, during each stage certain body parts are more sensitive. frustration or overindulgence may result in fixation during that stage
• oral stage (0-18 months) - pleasure derived from sucking and biting objects. if child does not receive enough attention they may become oral fixated
• anal stage (2-4 years) - pleasure derived from bowel movements. if toilet training is too strict or too lenient this could lead to anal fixations
• phallic stage (4-6 years) - sexual attraction towards opposite sex parent. oedipus complex occurs when boy develops affection for mother but feels threatened by father so represses these thoughts. Electra complex occurs when girl becomes attracted to father but feels threatened by mother so represses these thoughts
• latency period (7-12 years) - suppression of sexual urges until puberty
• genital stage (puberty onwards) - full expression of adult sexuality
• core studies that illustrate

  • freud - little Hans studied during oedipus complex
  • Hancock - study relied on the assumption that the use of language can reveal features of our personality
• applications

  • psychoanalysis
• strengths

  • interactionist approach in terms of nature v nurture, holistic approach
  • use of case studies gathers in depth qualitative data
• weaknesses

  • deterministic which reduces the usefulness of applications
  • lacks scienficness