The psychodynamic approach
A perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics), most of which are
unconcious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience
The unconscious
The part of the mind that we are unaware of but which directs much of our
behaviour
Id
Entirely unconscious, made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate
gratification
Ego
The ‘reality check’ that balances the conflicting demands of the Id and the Superego
Superego
The moralistic part of our personality which represents the ideal self - how we ought
to be
Defence mechanisms
Unconscious strategies that the Ego uses to manage the conflict between Id and the
Superego
Psychosexual stages
Five developmental stages that children go through. At each stage there is a different
conflict, the outcome of which determines future development
The role of unconcious
Freud suggested that the conscious mind, is merely the “tip of the iceberg”
Most of our mind is made up of the unconcious, a vast storehouse of biological
drives and instincts that has a significant influence influence on our behaviour and
personality
Unconscious mind also contains threatening and disturbing memories that have
been repressed, or locked away and forgotten (“defence mechanisms”). These are
accessed during dreams or through ‘slips of the tongue’ (what Freud referred to as
parapraxes). Eg calling teacher mum instead of miss
Under surface of conscious mind is the preconscious mind, which contains thoughts
and memories which are not currently in conscious awareness but we can access if
desired
The structure of personality
Freud described personality as “tripartite”, composed of 3 parts: Id, Ego and
Superego
Id
primitive part of our personality, operates on the pleasure principle - Id gets what it
wants
Seething mass of unconscious drives and instincts
A perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics), most of which are
unconcious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience
The unconscious
The part of the mind that we are unaware of but which directs much of our
behaviour
Id
Entirely unconscious, made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate
gratification
Ego
The ‘reality check’ that balances the conflicting demands of the Id and the Superego
Superego
The moralistic part of our personality which represents the ideal self - how we ought
to be
Defence mechanisms
Unconscious strategies that the Ego uses to manage the conflict between Id and the
Superego
Psychosexual stages
Five developmental stages that children go through. At each stage there is a different
conflict, the outcome of which determines future development
The role of unconcious
Freud suggested that the conscious mind, is merely the “tip of the iceberg”
Most of our mind is made up of the unconcious, a vast storehouse of biological
drives and instincts that has a significant influence influence on our behaviour and
personality
Unconscious mind also contains threatening and disturbing memories that have
been repressed, or locked away and forgotten (“defence mechanisms”). These are
accessed during dreams or through ‘slips of the tongue’ (what Freud referred to as
parapraxes). Eg calling teacher mum instead of miss
Under surface of conscious mind is the preconscious mind, which contains thoughts
and memories which are not currently in conscious awareness but we can access if
desired
The structure of personality
Freud described personality as “tripartite”, composed of 3 parts: Id, Ego and
Superego
Id
primitive part of our personality, operates on the pleasure principle - Id gets what it
wants
Seething mass of unconscious drives and instincts
