PCN-107 MIDTERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Freud's topographic model (#2) Answer: Preconscious: stored
information you can retrieve if desired
◉ Freud's topographic model (#3) Answer: Unconscious: thoughts,
feelings, and desires you cannot access under most circumstances,
although they may be accessed through specific techniques.
(compared to an "iceberg").
◉ Explain the purpose of defense mechanisms Answer: Defense
mechanisms are the unconscious strategies that people use to
reduce anxiety by concealing its source from themselves and others.
Ego attempts to reduce or avoid anxiety by keeping material out of
the conscious (ex: repression, sublimation, displacement, etc.)
◉ Name the five stages of psychosexual development Answer: 1.
Oral stage (0-18 months)
2. Anal stage (18 months-3yrs)
3. Phallic stage (3-6yrs) *Oedipus complex
4. Latency (6+ yrs)
5. Genital (Beyond Puberty)
fixation= psychic energy
, ◉ Transference Answer: unconscious redirection of feelings from
one person to another (usually client to counselor). Key to
psychodynamic therapy.
◉ counter transference Answer: unconscious transferring of
thoughts, feelings, and attitudes onto the client by the therapist
◉ Free association Answer: the client is permitted to discuss
anything that they want without any limitations. eventually thoughts
and feelings protected by ego's defense mechanisms can be exposed.
◉ Resistance Answer: anything that impedes the work of
psychoanalysis or prevents the analyst from gaining access to
client's unconscious.
◉ Dream Analysis Answer: the interpretation of dreams is the road
to unconscious activities. (manifest content: the obvious conscious
meaning of a dream & underlying meanings)
◉ Strengths and weaknesses of psychodynamic theories? Answer:
strengths: effective w/ depression, anxiety, ptsd, eating disorders,
etc. showed 60-90% improvement.
weaknesses: doesn't work well w/ those who are not comfy w/
examining intrapsychic processes.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Freud's topographic model (#2) Answer: Preconscious: stored
information you can retrieve if desired
◉ Freud's topographic model (#3) Answer: Unconscious: thoughts,
feelings, and desires you cannot access under most circumstances,
although they may be accessed through specific techniques.
(compared to an "iceberg").
◉ Explain the purpose of defense mechanisms Answer: Defense
mechanisms are the unconscious strategies that people use to
reduce anxiety by concealing its source from themselves and others.
Ego attempts to reduce or avoid anxiety by keeping material out of
the conscious (ex: repression, sublimation, displacement, etc.)
◉ Name the five stages of psychosexual development Answer: 1.
Oral stage (0-18 months)
2. Anal stage (18 months-3yrs)
3. Phallic stage (3-6yrs) *Oedipus complex
4. Latency (6+ yrs)
5. Genital (Beyond Puberty)
fixation= psychic energy
, ◉ Transference Answer: unconscious redirection of feelings from
one person to another (usually client to counselor). Key to
psychodynamic therapy.
◉ counter transference Answer: unconscious transferring of
thoughts, feelings, and attitudes onto the client by the therapist
◉ Free association Answer: the client is permitted to discuss
anything that they want without any limitations. eventually thoughts
and feelings protected by ego's defense mechanisms can be exposed.
◉ Resistance Answer: anything that impedes the work of
psychoanalysis or prevents the analyst from gaining access to
client's unconscious.
◉ Dream Analysis Answer: the interpretation of dreams is the road
to unconscious activities. (manifest content: the obvious conscious
meaning of a dream & underlying meanings)
◉ Strengths and weaknesses of psychodynamic theories? Answer:
strengths: effective w/ depression, anxiety, ptsd, eating disorders,
etc. showed 60-90% improvement.
weaknesses: doesn't work well w/ those who are not comfy w/
examining intrapsychic processes.
