Psychodynamic

• Freud's theory of the psychodynamics

  Focuses on the unconscious mind and how it affects behaviour and personality
• Conscious mind


  Contains memories which are present
• Preconscious


  Contains memories which are not currently present but can be accessed
• Unconscious mind


  Contains repressed memories which cannot be accessed such as repressed memories of childhood trauma
• Unconscious mind


  Can be revealed in dreams or through 'Freudian slips'
• Parts of personality


  • Id
  • Ego
  • Superego
• Id


  Governed by the pleasure principle, formed at birth, operates by instinct to obtain instant gratification
• Ego


  Mediator between the id and superego, governed by the reality principle around anal stage
• Superego


  Governed by the morality principle, inner voice which tells us right from wrong – phallic stage
• Defence mechanisms developed by the ego

  • Repression
  • Denial
  • Displacement
• Psychosexual stages


  • Oral (0-2)
  • Anal (2-3)
  • Phallic (3-6)
  • Latent (6-P)
  • Genital (Puberty +)
• Oral stage (0-2)


  Receive pleasure through the mouth; id fixations like nail-biting and smoking
• Anal stage (2-3)


  Becomes aware of reality principle. Anal retentive; organised perfectionist and anal expulsive; messy and disorganised
• Phallic stage (3-6)


  Oedipus complex, boys feel desire for mother and jealous of father experience castration anxiety and then identify with the father – super ego. Messiness and recklessness
• Latent stage (6-P)


  Sexual drives become latent and focus on outer world and friendships
• Genital stage (Puberty +)


  Focus on forming heterosexual relationships
• Practical application with psychotherapy. Analysis of dreams to reveal trauma in the unconscious helps those with mental health conditions. Biskup et al., (2005) study of 36 patients psychoanalytic therapy, 77% of the patients improvements.
• Unscientific. Unfalsifiable
• Gender bias – Androcentrism, but ideas were adjusted to create the electra complex Therefore, while Freud's original ideas demonstrate a significant gender bias, his work has been used to develop important and influential theories that apply to women.
• Determinist as ignores the influence of free will.