Psychodynamic Psychodynamic Approach & Sigmund Approach & Sigmund

FreudFreud

Assumptions of the Assumptions of the Psychodynamic ApproachPsychodynamic Approach

1) 1) A large part of our mental life operates A large part of our mental life operates on an unconscious levelon an unconscious level

Slips of the tongue and accidents have an Slips of the tongue and accidents have an unconscious explanationunconscious explanation

Thought and memories can be held in the Thought and memories can be held in the unconscious mind by repressionunconscious mind by repression

2) Early childhood is important for the development of the adult personality

Fixation in a stage of Freud’s stages of psychosexual development can affect the adult personality.

Traumatic events in childhood can be repressed but they still have an impact on the adult

3)Freuds main assumption was that the sexual instinct is the primary driving force in mental life

It operates unconsciously in the id

The Unconscious Mind

• Freud believed that many things going on in our mental lives took place on an unconscious level.

• This means that the true motivation behind our behaviour may be unknown to us.

Freud saw the mind as being like an iceberg with the largest part

unseen

The Three Parts of the Mind• Conscious mind:

what we are aware of.

• Pre-conscious mind: Material which can be easily recalled

• Unconscious mind: Material buried deeply which we are not aware of

Structure of the mindFreud saw the mind as

being in three parts

The IdThe Ego The Super-Ego

The IdThe Id

Present from birth and contains basic Present from birth and contains basic drives and instincts.drives and instincts.

Resides in the unconscious mindResides in the unconscious mind

Totally selfishTotally selfish

The Id

• Operates on the pleasure principle

• If needs are not met the id is extreme in reaction

The Ego

Starts to emerge during first few months of life

It develops as the child realises that some behaviours are unacceptable.

It is the part of us we are consciously aware of and operates on the reality principle.

The Super-Ego• Develops as the child

grows

• It tell us what we ought and ought not to do

• Unrealistic and operates on the idealism principle

• The ego must compromise between the demands of the id and the super-ego and decide how we will behave

Id Ego Super-ego

Behaviour

Stages of Psychosexual Stages of Psychosexual Development Development

Oral Stage 0 – 1 yr

• Libido focussed on the

• mouth

• Pleasure derived from sucking and biting.

• Early or late weaning can lead to fixation in this stage and the adult is always putting things into their mouths

Anal Stage 1 to 3 yr• Libido focused on the anus

• Pleasure derived from defecation.

• If potty training is too early or too late the adult will be fixated in this stage and be obsessively neat

Anal Stage 1 to 3 yr

Too strict potty training makes the adult anally retentive: mean stubborn grasping Too pleasurable potty training makes the adult anally expulsive: over generous

Phallic Stage

• Libido is focus on the penis

• Gender role develops via the Oedipus and Electra complex

Latency Stage 5 to puberty

Libido is diffuse throughout the body

Genital Stage Puberty onwards

Libido is focused on the genitals

Attraction is to the opposite sex