PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH

• PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH 


  focuses on the unconscious basis of behaviour.
• PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH 


  FREUD believed that behaviour was determined more by psychological factors than biological factors or environmental reinforcement.

  He believed that people were born with basic instincts/drives and that behaviour is largely controlled by the unconscious mind. Freud used a metaphor of an iceberg to describe the mind.
• TIP OF THE ICEBERG


  represents the conscious mind which contains all thoughts, memories and feelings which we are aware of.
• UNCONSCIOUS MIND 


   larger part of the iceberg hidden under water. This is where the majority of the personality is - containing the ego, superego and the Id.
• FREUD believed that the mind actually prevents traumatic memories from the unconscious from reaching the conscious awareness i.e the mind uses defence mechanisms to prevent the person coming aware of them.
• DEFENCE MECHANISMS 


  • REPRESSION
  • DENIAL
  • DISPLACEMENT
• REPRESSION


  process by which unbearable memories (e.g. Those related to internal conflicts) are kept out of consciousness. These repressed thoughts/impulses influence behaviour without an individual being aware. E.g. a child may not remember past abusive experiences with parents.
• DENIAL 


  refusal to accept reality so as to avoid having to deal with any painful feelings that might be associated with the event. The person carries on acting as if the traumatic event never occurred. E.g. a drug addict often denying their problem.
• DISPLACEMENT 


  redirecting of (usually) hostile thoughts/feelings by directing emotions to an innocent victim instead of the person they should be directing it towards.
• 3 PARTS OF PERSONALITY  


  
  

  • ID
  • EGO
  • SUPEREGO
• ID

  selfish and operates on the pleasure principle
• EGO


  manages the conflicts between the id and the superego and operates on the reality principle
• SUPEREGO


  operates on the morality principle, which are the moral standards acquired from parents and society.
• PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES 


  5 stages successfully without getting fixated or it would cause problems for our adult personality. This includes;

  • Oral
  • Anal
  • Phallic
  • Latent
  • Genital.
• ORAL (0-2YRS)


  it focuses on the stimulation of the mouth eg. sucking/biting.
• ANAL (2-3YRS)


  where potty training occurs at this age which places focus of pleasure on the anus. A major issue is that a child is learning to control bodily waste.
• PHALLIC (3-6YRS)


  where sexual energy is now focused on the genitals. Boys develop the oedipus complex where they have unconscious sexual desires for their mothers. Whereas girls develop the electra complex, where they too have unconscious sexual desires for their father and then develop penis envy.
• LATENT (6-12YRS)


  where a child suppresses any sexual desires that aren’t fixated on any centre of pleasure and instead focus interest in social interaction, school work and hobbies.
• GENITAL (12+)


  occurs from ages 12+ where it focuses on the sexual energy directed towards relationships with sexual partners. 
• (+) STRENGTH - PSYCHODYNAMIC 


  It offers methods of therapy e.g. psychoanalysis which may also reveal unconscious conflicts i.e. patients can understand the causes of their problems to then resolve them and release their anxieties.
• (+) STRENGTH - PSYCHODYNAMIC

  Freud’s theory places emphasis on how early childhood experiences can affect later development which has formed the basis of lots of other important theories.
• (-) WEAKNESS - PSYCHODYNAMIC

  Freud claims are based on his subjective interpretations of his patients dreams i.e. they are often unreliable and open to bias. His theories are also related to the unconscious mind which cannot be assessed, meaning his theories are unfalsifiable.
• (-) WEAKNESS - PSYCHODYNAMIC 


  The focus is on the patient's past, rather than on the problems they are currently suffering and the unscientific research method means it is not possible to show cause and effect. 
• (-) WEAKNESS - PSYCHODYNAMIC 


  the approach is based on case studies of people in distress i.e. the findings may not generalise to the wider population
• + LITTLE HANS = HORSE