Psychodynamic

• What is the primary focus of the psychodynamic approach in psychology?

  The unconscious mind is the primary source of behavior
• How does the psychodynamic approach view the influence of childhood on behavior?

  Behavior is strongly influenced by childhood experiences
• What are the three parts of personality according to the psychodynamic approach?

  • ID: entirely unconscious, selfish aggressive instincts
  • Ego: reality check, balances demands of ID and SuperEgo
  • SuperEgo: moralistic part, represents ideal self
• What is repression in the context of defense mechanisms?


  Repression is burying an unpleasant thought or feeling in the unconscious
• What does regression mean in psychological terms?

  Regression is when the ego reverts back to an earlier state in response to stress
• What is denial as a defense mechanism?

  Denial is the refusal to accept reality
• What does displacement refer to in defense mechanisms?


  Displacement is redirecting an impulse onto a powerless substitute
• What are the psychosexual stages of development according to Freud?

  1. Oral (0-1): pleasure from the mouth, resolved through weaning
  2. Anal (1-3): pleasure from holding/expelling feces, resolved by toilet training
  3. Phallic (3-6): pleasure from genitals, Oedipus conflict, superego develops
  4. Latency (6): sexual urges repressed, no conflict
  5. Genital (puberty-death): sexual instincts directed into heterosexual relationships
• What is the outcome of the oral psychosexual stage if not resolved?

  It can lead to oral fixations
• What personality types can develop from the anal psychosexual stage?

  Anal retentive and anal expulsive personalities
• What is the significance of the phallic stage in psychosexual development?

  It involves pleasure from genitals and the resolution of the Oedipus complex
• What happens during the latency stage of psychosexual development?

  Sexual urges are repressed, and there is no conflict
• What characterizes the genital stage of psychosexual development?

  Sexual instincts are directed into heterosexual relationships
• What does the SuperEgo represent in the structure of personality?

  The SuperEgo represents our ideal self and moral standards
• What role does the Ego play in personality structure?

  The Ego acts as a reality check, balancing the demands of the ID and SuperEgo
• What is the ID in the context of personality structure?

  The ID is entirely unconscious and consists of selfish aggressive instincts
• What was the significance of Little Hans in psychodynamic theory?

  • Helped understand the Oedipus complex
  • Provided insight into child development
  • His fear of horses was interpreted as symbolic of his father
  • Linked his fantasies to overcoming fear of his father
• What are some limitations of the Little Hans case study?

  It lacks population validity and raises ethical issues