Perspectives in Psychology The Psychodynamic Approach

Perspectives in Psychology

The Psychodynamic Approach

Recap on Last week

• Looked at:

• Freud and his life

• Introduction to the personality

• Talking therapy

Outcomes

• Define psychodynamic approach

• Explain the personality and how it controls human behaviour

• Relate approach to examples

• Begin to analyse the approach in terms of reliability and validity

NURD

• Nature or nurture

• Usefulness

• Reductionist

• Determinist

Ideas from the Psychodynamic approach Association

•Respond to a word with the first thing that comes into your mind

•Freud believed that by exploring the links that our mind makes without us consciously aware of them, we can obtain glimpses of the contents of the unconscious

Starter slip

Psychodynamic Psychology

• How well do we know ourselves?– The unconscious mind

• How do our parents shape us?– Developmental influences

• What do our dreams mean?– Symbolism in behaviour & experience

www.

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk

Freud

• Born Austria- 1856, died in London 1939

• pathological medicine and neurology

• Hysteria- that physical symptoms could be induced just by the mind

• Hypnotising patients and talking to them neutralised these ideas

• free association and talking therapy

Talking therapy

• Instead of the doctor talking and patient listening

• Now it’s the patient talking and the doctor listening

• This theory orginates from the study of Anna -O

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O51hnk77UVo

Basis of research

• Noticed a high rate of sexual abuse in his patients

• Concluded most psychological problems arose out of childhood sexual abuse and trauma- the seduction theory

• But because the stories came up so much-= Freud decided they were not true!

• phantasies of the mind- representing wishes of the mind- led to his major theories

What is good about this theory

• He was modern for his times

• Acknowledged the role of childhood events having an impact on the mind

• Ideas of unconscious motives

Psychodynamics

• The ‘dynamics’ or forces that drive us

• He challenged the bio psychological approach- mental illness was actually psychological not biological

Assumption 1

• Human behaviour is influenced by three parts of the mind

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlzkN9VvhqI

Core of the personality

• Dwells in the unconscious part • So our personality consists of these three

areas which creates complex human behaviours

• Ego strength- ability to effectively manage the anxiety created between these forces!

• Develops through interaction of our innate drives-(may be born with strong Id, ego or superego) and life experience

The Psyche (Personality)

Id:

Instincts

Superego:

Morality

Ego:

Reality

www.

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk

Healthy Psyche

Id Superego

Ego

OK Guys – I’m in charge. Anything you want has to go

through me.

OK.OK.

www.

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk

Anti social behaviour – overpowering ID develops a lack of regard for others

I want to play music all night really loud AND‘egg’ peoples’ houses

because its FUN!

Yeah why not! Hello!!! Anyone there??Don’t you care about

how others feel?

Neurotic

Id

Superego

Ego

Listen up! I’m in charge, and you are not here to enjoy yourselves. Get ready for a double-size portion of anxiety with a side

order of guilt!

No fun.

>whimper<

www.

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk

Psychotic

Id

SuperegoEgo

Sex! Food! Drink! Drugs! NOW!

Who turned out the lights?

www.

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk

PsychopathicOK. First, gimme food. Then I want sex –

lots of it and I don’t particularly care whether it’s with a willing partner. Then I want to hurt people. Badly. Probably be

hungry again after that so…

OK then. Let’s go.

www.

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk

Activity and worksheet

• Have a go at the following activity

• On the back of the sheet- explain using the three parts, what stopped you carrying out your behaviour from the starter slip exercise

Assumption 2

• Behaviour is influenced by different levels of consciousness and ego defences

•

The UnconsciousThe conscious. The small amount of mental activity we know about.

The preconscious. Things we could be aware of if we wanted or tried.

The unconscious. Things we are unaware of and can not become aware of.

ThoughtsPerceptions

MemoriesStored knowledge

FearsUnacceptable sexual desiresViolent motivesIrrational wishesImmoral urgesSelfish needsShameful experiencesTraumatic experiences

Bad

Worse

Really Bad

www.

psyc

hlot

ron.

org.

uk

The unconscious mind

• Relates to pleasure seeking and removing anxiety

• Cannot be accessed directly- but through our behaviour and dreams

• Relates to our ego defence mechanisms

• Conflicts lead to anxiety

• Ego protects itself through defences

• If over used can be the cause of disturbed behaviour!

•

Anxiety = conflictAngel and devil are

stressing me!What can I do to remove

this feeling?

DisplacementRationalisationReaction formationRegressionRepressionDenial

So your behaviour, which others see will be directed by your defences!!!

Displacement

Repression

Mini group Activity

• Come up with your own examples to match the defences

Check learning

• Refer back to outcomes of lesson