The Psychodynamic Approach
The role of the unconscious
Freud used a metaphor of an iceberg to describe the mind, the tip of the iceberg representing the
visible, conscious mind, and the much larger part hidden under the water representing the
unconscious mind.
The structure of the personality
The id:
− First part of the personality to develop
− Present at birth
− Operates in the unconscious mind
− Contains our unconscious desires
− Operates on the pleasure principle – pleasure seeking
− Demands immediate gratification
− Unconcerned of the consequences of actions
The ego:
− Second part of the personality to develop
− Develops in early childhood
− Operates in the conscious mind
− Operates on the reality principle
− Ego has a role to mediate between competing demands of the id and superego
The superego:
− Third and final part of the personality to develop
− Develops in later childhood
− Operates in the conscious mind
− Operates on the morality principle
− Wants us to do what socially acceptable
− Linked to the conscience
− Makes you feel guilty if you do something wrong
Psychic conflict
Freud believed that the id and superego are in conflict within the psyche.
He argued that they make competing demands.
He thought that the role of the ego is to mediate between these.
Freud believed that if the ego can mediate the individual will be psychologically healthy.
However, if the ego cannot mediate, we can become id dominated which leads to conduct
disorders.
, Equally, if we become superego dominated this can lead to anxiety disorders.
Both of these are psychologically unhealthy.
Defence Mechanisms
Repression
During early childhood, our ego is too immature to deal with traumatic events that happen to us.
In this situation, we repress our memory of the traumatic event(s) into our unconscious.
These events can continue to influence our thoughts, feelings and actions even though we are
unaware of them.
E.g., difficulties forming and sustaining relationships.
Repression is a defence mechanism because it prevents us having to deal with the anxiety
associated with the memory of the traumatic event.
Denial
The individual refuses to accept that a traumatic event has occurred or a situation has
developed.
E.g., alcoholism, intimate partner violence (IPV), bereavement, drug addiction, gambling, break up
of a relationship.
Denial is a defence mechanism because it means that the individual doesn’t have to deal with
the traumatic event.
Displacement
The individual displaces feelings of anger and hostility from the person/people they are angry
with onto something/someone else.
Displacement is a defence mechanism because it allows us to express our hostility.
Psychosexual Stages
Freud believed that at each psychosexual stage, the individual needs the right amount and the
right kind of stimulus.
If we get this, we move onto the next stage. If we get the right amount and the right kind of stimulus
at each stage, we are not over or under gratified, we ultimately become a psychologically and
sexually healthy adult. The fixed sequence of the five stages is:
- Oral: Mouth – satisfaction gained from putting things in the mouth (feeding).
- Anal: Pleasure gained from bowel movements (potty training).
- Phallic: Oedipus Complex (or Electra complex for girls) - a child’s unconscious sexual
desires for the opposite sex parent and fear punishment from same sex parent (castration
anxiety in boys).
- Latent: Sexuality lies dormant as the child is busy learning their gender roles, social rules
and developing self-confidence. Previous conflicts are resolved/repressed and early years
are largely forgotten
- Genital: The individual becomes interested in the opposite sex with the onset of puberty
The role of the unconscious
Freud used a metaphor of an iceberg to describe the mind, the tip of the iceberg representing the
visible, conscious mind, and the much larger part hidden under the water representing the
unconscious mind.
The structure of the personality
The id:
− First part of the personality to develop
− Present at birth
− Operates in the unconscious mind
− Contains our unconscious desires
− Operates on the pleasure principle – pleasure seeking
− Demands immediate gratification
− Unconcerned of the consequences of actions
The ego:
− Second part of the personality to develop
− Develops in early childhood
− Operates in the conscious mind
− Operates on the reality principle
− Ego has a role to mediate between competing demands of the id and superego
The superego:
− Third and final part of the personality to develop
− Develops in later childhood
− Operates in the conscious mind
− Operates on the morality principle
− Wants us to do what socially acceptable
− Linked to the conscience
− Makes you feel guilty if you do something wrong
Psychic conflict
Freud believed that the id and superego are in conflict within the psyche.
He argued that they make competing demands.
He thought that the role of the ego is to mediate between these.
Freud believed that if the ego can mediate the individual will be psychologically healthy.
However, if the ego cannot mediate, we can become id dominated which leads to conduct
disorders.
, Equally, if we become superego dominated this can lead to anxiety disorders.
Both of these are psychologically unhealthy.
Defence Mechanisms
Repression
During early childhood, our ego is too immature to deal with traumatic events that happen to us.
In this situation, we repress our memory of the traumatic event(s) into our unconscious.
These events can continue to influence our thoughts, feelings and actions even though we are
unaware of them.
E.g., difficulties forming and sustaining relationships.
Repression is a defence mechanism because it prevents us having to deal with the anxiety
associated with the memory of the traumatic event.
Denial
The individual refuses to accept that a traumatic event has occurred or a situation has
developed.
E.g., alcoholism, intimate partner violence (IPV), bereavement, drug addiction, gambling, break up
of a relationship.
Denial is a defence mechanism because it means that the individual doesn’t have to deal with
the traumatic event.
Displacement
The individual displaces feelings of anger and hostility from the person/people they are angry
with onto something/someone else.
Displacement is a defence mechanism because it allows us to express our hostility.
Psychosexual Stages
Freud believed that at each psychosexual stage, the individual needs the right amount and the
right kind of stimulus.
If we get this, we move onto the next stage. If we get the right amount and the right kind of stimulus
at each stage, we are not over or under gratified, we ultimately become a psychologically and
sexually healthy adult. The fixed sequence of the five stages is:
- Oral: Mouth – satisfaction gained from putting things in the mouth (feeding).
- Anal: Pleasure gained from bowel movements (potty training).
- Phallic: Oedipus Complex (or Electra complex for girls) - a child’s unconscious sexual
desires for the opposite sex parent and fear punishment from same sex parent (castration
anxiety in boys).
- Latent: Sexuality lies dormant as the child is busy learning their gender roles, social rules
and developing self-confidence. Previous conflicts are resolved/repressed and early years
are largely forgotten
- Genital: The individual becomes interested in the opposite sex with the onset of puberty
