Outline and evaluate the psychodynamic
approach
Introduction - correct answer-The psychodynamic approach was founded by Sigmund Freud.
It argues that personality is caused by forces in the unconscious.
The mind is made of three parts - correct answer-The mind is made of three parts (tripartite).
The first part is the conscious part. This is the part of the mind we are aware of. The second
part is the preconscious part. This includes information we may become aware of during
dreams or "slips of the tongue". The third part is the unconscious part. This is a store of
biological drives and instincts and memories that have been repressed.
The structure of personality - correct answer-The personality is made up of the I'd, ego and
superego. The I'd operates on the pleasure principle. It is entirely selfish. The ego operates
on the reality principle. It mediates between the I'd and the superego. It uses defence
mechanisms to help it manages demands of the id and superego. The superego is based on
the morality principle. It is our internalised sense of right and wrong.
Defence mechanisms - correct answer-The ego uses 3 defence mechanisms to help it
manage demands. These are repression, denial and displacement. Repression is the
process of forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind. Denial is refusing to
acknowledge some aspects of reality and displacement is transferring feelings from the
source of distress onto a substitute target.
Psychosexual stages - correct answer-Psychosexual stages are stages of development in
children. The first stage is the oral stage. This is from 0-1 years old. Unresolved conflict in
this stage can lead to nail biting and smoking. The second stage is the anal stage. This is
from 1-3 years old. Unresolved conflict in this stage can lead to being a perfectionist of being
thoughtless. The third stage is the phallic stage. This is from 3-5 years old. Unresolved
conflict in this stage can lead to being narcissistic, reckless and possibly homosexual. The
forth stage is latency. This is where unresolved conflicts are resolved. The final stage is the
genital stage. This is where sexual desires become conscious.
Useful - correct answer-The psychodynamic approach has been used to explain a wide
range of phenomena including personality development, moral development and gender. It
was also used to create a new type of therapy called psychoanalysis.
Unscientific - correct answer-Freuds concepts are said to appear at an unconscious level
making them difficult to test.
approach
Introduction - correct answer-The psychodynamic approach was founded by Sigmund Freud.
It argues that personality is caused by forces in the unconscious.
The mind is made of three parts - correct answer-The mind is made of three parts (tripartite).
The first part is the conscious part. This is the part of the mind we are aware of. The second
part is the preconscious part. This includes information we may become aware of during
dreams or "slips of the tongue". The third part is the unconscious part. This is a store of
biological drives and instincts and memories that have been repressed.
The structure of personality - correct answer-The personality is made up of the I'd, ego and
superego. The I'd operates on the pleasure principle. It is entirely selfish. The ego operates
on the reality principle. It mediates between the I'd and the superego. It uses defence
mechanisms to help it manages demands of the id and superego. The superego is based on
the morality principle. It is our internalised sense of right and wrong.
Defence mechanisms - correct answer-The ego uses 3 defence mechanisms to help it
manage demands. These are repression, denial and displacement. Repression is the
process of forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind. Denial is refusing to
acknowledge some aspects of reality and displacement is transferring feelings from the
source of distress onto a substitute target.
Psychosexual stages - correct answer-Psychosexual stages are stages of development in
children. The first stage is the oral stage. This is from 0-1 years old. Unresolved conflict in
this stage can lead to nail biting and smoking. The second stage is the anal stage. This is
from 1-3 years old. Unresolved conflict in this stage can lead to being a perfectionist of being
thoughtless. The third stage is the phallic stage. This is from 3-5 years old. Unresolved
conflict in this stage can lead to being narcissistic, reckless and possibly homosexual. The
forth stage is latency. This is where unresolved conflicts are resolved. The final stage is the
genital stage. This is where sexual desires become conscious.
Useful - correct answer-The psychodynamic approach has been used to explain a wide
range of phenomena including personality development, moral development and gender. It
was also used to create a new type of therapy called psychoanalysis.
Unscientific - correct answer-Freuds concepts are said to appear at an unconscious level
making them difficult to test.
