PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Main assumption:
- All human behaviour comes from a part of the mind that individuals have no direct
awareness of; the unconscious.
- Believes that childhood is a critical period in the development of our behaviour and
personality and that our behaviour is a result of an interaction between unconscious innate
drives and early experiences.
- Personality differences or abnormal behaviour can be traced back to the way the childhood
conflicts between desire and experience we handled.
Principles and Concepts:
- Many important influences on behaviour come from a part of the mind individuals have no
direct awareness or knowledge of, the unconscious
- Childhood is a critical period in development of our behaviour and personality
- Our behaviour is a result of an interaction between unconscious innate drives (i.e. desire of
pleasure) and early experiences (extent to which our early desires were gratified) – these
conflicts remain with the adult and exert pressure through unconsciously motivated
behaviour
Conscious - i deas, thoughts and feelings of which we are aware
Preconscious - material that can be easily recalled
Ego - s elf reality principle
Superego - e go ideal, moral guardian
Unconscious - w ell below the surface of awareness
Id - pleasure principle, unconscious urges and desires
Id:
● Primary driving force is sexual instinct, which operates in the unconscious
● Operates using the pleasure principle - wants things immediately
● Strong Id = desires, impulses and self-gratification take over
Superego:
● This is the moral component of personality
● Developed from societal and parental standards of what is appropriate behaviour
● Develops at age 5
● Strong superego = rigid morals, judgemental inflexible with world
Ego:
● This is the conscious, rational mind and it develops during the first two years of life
● It works on the reality principle
● Balances the needs of the Id and Superego
● In a healthy person, the ego is the strongest
If unbalanced can lead to anxiety, and eventually OCD, phobias, depression and other anxiety disorders
Defence Mechanisms - if we have unpleasant thoughts or experiences we can protect ourselves by using
defence mechanisms. The ego protects itself by using strategies to reduce anxiety.
Main assumption:
- All human behaviour comes from a part of the mind that individuals have no direct
awareness of; the unconscious.
- Believes that childhood is a critical period in the development of our behaviour and
personality and that our behaviour is a result of an interaction between unconscious innate
drives and early experiences.
- Personality differences or abnormal behaviour can be traced back to the way the childhood
conflicts between desire and experience we handled.
Principles and Concepts:
- Many important influences on behaviour come from a part of the mind individuals have no
direct awareness or knowledge of, the unconscious
- Childhood is a critical period in development of our behaviour and personality
- Our behaviour is a result of an interaction between unconscious innate drives (i.e. desire of
pleasure) and early experiences (extent to which our early desires were gratified) – these
conflicts remain with the adult and exert pressure through unconsciously motivated
behaviour
Conscious - i deas, thoughts and feelings of which we are aware
Preconscious - material that can be easily recalled
Ego - s elf reality principle
Superego - e go ideal, moral guardian
Unconscious - w ell below the surface of awareness
Id - pleasure principle, unconscious urges and desires
Id:
● Primary driving force is sexual instinct, which operates in the unconscious
● Operates using the pleasure principle - wants things immediately
● Strong Id = desires, impulses and self-gratification take over
Superego:
● This is the moral component of personality
● Developed from societal and parental standards of what is appropriate behaviour
● Develops at age 5
● Strong superego = rigid morals, judgemental inflexible with world
Ego:
● This is the conscious, rational mind and it develops during the first two years of life
● It works on the reality principle
● Balances the needs of the Id and Superego
● In a healthy person, the ego is the strongest
If unbalanced can lead to anxiety, and eventually OCD, phobias, depression and other anxiety disorders
Defence Mechanisms - if we have unpleasant thoughts or experiences we can protect ourselves by using
defence mechanisms. The ego protects itself by using strategies to reduce anxiety.
