Psychodynamic Approach Notes A2
The Psychodynamic Approach
Key Assumptions: * Assumes that a large part of out mental life operates at an unconscious level * It is assumed that unconscious sexual and aggressive instincts drive behaviour * The personality is made up of the id, the ego and the superego, which are in constant conflict * Defence mechanisms protect individuals from anxiety producing thoughts * It is assumed that early childhood experiences are important to understanding current behaviour * Children develop though psychosexual stages which involve conflict which mist be resolved * Assumes that dreams and slips of the tongue have unconscious explanations * Assumes that the best method for understanding human behaviour is the case study
Freud
* Focuses on unconscious/internal conflicts. * Unconscious motivation * Adult behaviour shaped by childhood experiences. * Developed therapy called psychoanalysis – unconscious can be looked into consciously
Personality Structure * Id – Pleasure principle, unconscious urges and desires * Ego – Reality principle, decides what actions are appropriate * Superego – Value and morals. It’s also the conscience and ego-ideal.
Defence Mechanism
Repression – Unconscious forgetting. Disturbing thoughts not allowed becoming conscious
Displacement – Transferring impulses and feelings to an originally neutral or innocent target
Projection – Attributing ones own unacceptable feeling onto another person
Identification – behaving in a similar way to someone you regard as a role model
Sublimation: Type of displacement where an activity is found to express an unacceptable desire.
Denial: Deny a situation you can’t deal with
Mind is Split up into the following: * Conscious * Pre-Conscious * Unconscious
Psychosexual Stages 1. Oral Stage 0-1 years 2. Anal Stage 1-3 years 3. Phallic Stage 3-6 years 4. Latency Stage 6-12 years
Key Assumptions: * Assumes that a large part of out mental life operates at an unconscious level * It is assumed that unconscious sexual and aggressive instincts drive behaviour * The personality is made up of the id, the ego and the superego, which are in constant conflict * Defence mechanisms protect individuals from anxiety producing thoughts * It is assumed that early childhood experiences are important to understanding current behaviour * Children develop though psychosexual stages which involve conflict which mist be resolved * Assumes that dreams and slips of the tongue have unconscious explanations * Assumes that the best method for understanding human behaviour is the case study
Freud
* Focuses on unconscious/internal conflicts. * Unconscious motivation * Adult behaviour shaped by childhood experiences. * Developed therapy called psychoanalysis – unconscious can be looked into consciously
Personality Structure * Id – Pleasure principle, unconscious urges and desires * Ego – Reality principle, decides what actions are appropriate * Superego – Value and morals. It’s also the conscience and ego-ideal.
Defence Mechanism
Repression – Unconscious forgetting. Disturbing thoughts not allowed becoming conscious
Displacement – Transferring impulses and feelings to an originally neutral or innocent target
Projection – Attributing ones own unacceptable feeling onto another person
Identification – behaving in a similar way to someone you regard as a role model
Sublimation: Type of displacement where an activity is found to express an unacceptable desire.
Denial: Deny a situation you can’t deal with
Mind is Split up into the following: * Conscious * Pre-Conscious * Unconscious
Psychosexual Stages 1. Oral Stage 0-1 years 2. Anal Stage 1-3 years 3. Phallic Stage 3-6 years 4. Latency Stage 6-12 years