Psychodynamic approach

• Who is the psychologist most people can name without studying psychology?

  Sigmund Freud
• What is the name of Freud's approach to psychology?

  Psychodynamics
• Why were Freud's theories influential despite being rejected by most psychologists today?

  They were foundational in the development of later theories and approaches
• What popular form of counseling did Freud develop?

  Psychotherapy
• What does Freud claim about the majority of our thoughts?

  They happen below the level of consciousness in the unconscious
• What does psychodynamics study?

  The unconscious mind and unconscious mental drives that develop in childhood
• What are the three parts of the mind according to Freud?

  The conscious mind, the preconscious, and the unconscious
• What is the role of the preconscious mind?

  It contains thoughts and memories that can be brought into conscious awareness
• What is the largest part of the mind according to Freud?

  The unconscious mind
• What is psychic determinism?

  The idea that the unconscious mind drives our conscious behavior and shapes our personality
• What can lead to fixation according to Freud?

  Problems in the psychosexual stages of development
• What are defense mechanisms according to Freud?

  Strategies involving the unconscious mind that the ego uses to manage conflicts
• What are three defense mechanisms mentioned in the study material?

  Repression, denial, and displacement
• What is repression?


  When an unpleasant memory or painful emotion is placed into the unconscious mind
• What is denial?


  Refusing to accept the reality of a situation
• What is displacement?


  When strong emotions are moved from the source to a substitute target
• How does Freud explain criminal behavior?

  As being due to an overdeveloped, underdeveloped, or deviant super ego
• What are the five psychosexual stages according to Freud?

  1. Oral stage (0-1 years)
  2. Anal stage (1-3 years)
  3. Phallic stage (3-5 years)
  4. Latency stage (6-12 years)
  5. Genital stage (12 years and onward)
• What happens during the oral stage?

  The baby receives pleasure from their mouth during breastfeeding
• What conflict occurs during the anal stage?


  The child experiences potty training and the conflict of holding on to or expelling feces
• What is the Oedipus complex?


  A boy's attraction to his mother and rivalry with his father
• What is penis envy according to Freud?


  A girl's realization that she does not have a penis and her desire for one
• What happens during the latency stage?

  Sexual energy is dispersed across the body and early childhood memories are repressed
• What is the final stage of psychosexual development?

  The genital stage, which begins at puberty
• What is the role of the ego in personality structure?

  To mediate between the demands of the ID and the super ego
• What is the tripartite structure of personality according to Freud?

  The ID, the ego, and the super ego
• What is the significance of Freud's theories in modern psychology?

  They have been influential in the development of later psychological theories
• What is the criticism regarding the scientific credibility of Freud's ideas?

  Many of his ideas lack empirical support and are based on case studies
• What does falsifiability mean in the context of Freud's theories?


  The ability to demonstrate that a theory is incorrect
• What is the practical application of psychodynamics?

  Psychoanalysis is a common form of talking therapy
• What did the meta-analysis by Dmats conclude about psychoanalytic therapy?

  It supports the effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapy
• What is the historical significance of Freud's focus on early childhood experiences?

  It was unusual at the time and influenced later attachment theories
• How do people relate to Freud's ideas in everyday life?

  Many can identify examples of defense mechanisms and unconscious desires
• What is the appeal of some of Freud's ideas despite their strangeness?

  They have intuitive appeal and resonate with people's experiences
• What is the role of the Freud Museum in relation to Freud's theories?

  It provides a fantastic introduction to Freud's ideas and theories
• What is the significance of the iceberg metaphor in Freud's theory?

  It illustrates the vastness of the unconscious mind compared to the conscious mind
• How does Freud's theory explain the development of gender identity?

  Through the resolution of conflicts during the phallic stage
• What is the relationship between fixation and personality traits?

  Fixation can alter personality and lead to mental disorders
• What is the role of the super ego in personality development?

  It enforces moral standards and causes feelings of guilt
• How does Freud's theory relate to modern psychological practices?

  Some concepts have been reframed into more scientific language