Psychodynamic Perspective PDF

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Psychology Revision for Component 2 OCR...

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Psychodynamic Perspective The main assumption of the psychodynamic approach is that all human behaviour comes from a part of the mid that individuals have no direct awareness of; the unconscious. The perspective 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.

1. Principles and Concepts: 1. Many important influences on behaviour come from a part of the mind individuals have no direct awareness or knowledge of, the unconscious 2. Childhood is a critical period in development of our behaviour and personality 3. 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 - ideas, thoughts and feelings of which we are aware Preconscious - material that can be easily recalled Ego - self reality principle Superego - ego ideal, moral guardian Unconscious - well 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 health 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.

Psychosexual Stages of Development Oral (0-18 months)  pleasure gained through sucking and biting Anal (18-36 months)  pleasure gained from controlling bowel movements Phallic Stage (3-6 years)  Oedipus and Electra complexes, pleasure from phallus Latency Period (6-puberty)  Standstill (cognitive and social development) Genital (puberty-adulthood)  Direct libido outwards towards the opposite sex

2. Research to Illustrate the Area: Freud (Little Hans) - Psychodynamic because of the way in which Freud’s theory of psychosexual development (especially the Oedipus complex) is drawn upon to explain little Hans’ phobias and fantasies. Freud looks at the Oedipus Complex and outlines when Hans shows signs of going through it, such as the Phallic Stage when he becomes obsessed with his penis and shows signs of fancying his mother. Hancock (language of psychopaths) - Hancock’s study is not in itself psychodynamic, but it makes repeated references to concepts that draw upon psychodynamic ideas throughout the course of the paper; namely ego development, use of a Rorschach test, psychological ‘distancing’, basic and thrill-seeking drives and language used being, in all likelihood beyond conscious control. Again, these ideas could be drawn out and explicitly related to the psychodynamic perspective. Kohlberg (stages of moral development) - Kohlberg’s study is not psychodynamic, but within his paper he explicitly positions his own work against Freudian views of the origins of virtue (as ‘superego-identification with parents generated by a proper balance of love and authority in family relations’). Psychodynamic theories about moral development could be drawn out further in the course of exploring Kohlberg’s work.

3. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Area: Strengths     

Useful - can suggest causes of mental health disorders and suggests reasons for behaviours Can look at development of behaviour over time Highlights importance of childhood experiences Qualitative data collected Case studies - in depth and detailed data

Weaknesses     

Unrepresentative samples e.g. Little Hans Subjective methodology - open to bias Lacks empirical support and cannot be tested scientifically Ethical issues Unfalsifiable

One strength of the psychodynamic perspective is that it puts focus on the individual debate by using case studies to get a detailed and thorough insight of a person’s behaviour and feelings make it useful. Freud’s case study of Little Hans gained a large amount of detail about Hans’ fear and anxieties to identify the cause of horse phobia. Info was gathered through conversations between Hans and his father, observations and analysis of dreams and fantasies. This is a strength because gathering data to give insight into behaviour and the impact of early experience on behaviour furthers our understanding of the importance of early relationships and it can stimulate further research. Another strength of the psychodynamic perspective is that it takes both nature and nurture into account when trying to explain behaviours and acknowledges both the role of biology and the role of the environment in shaping our adult behaviour. Freud’s study of Little Hans takes into account both innate biological drives in driving the Oedipus complex and relationships with his parents when trying to explain Hans’ fear of horses. This is a strength because by acknowledging both nature and nurture as influences of behaviour, it takes an interactionist viewpoint. This means that any practical applications developed are more likely to be successful as a number of casual variables are taken into account.

One weakness of the psychodynamic perspective is that it is very subjective so is not scientific as it relies on many tools to investigate a person’s behaviour and feelings that could be interpreted very differently by different psychologists. Freud’s study showed Hans’ giraffe dream was interpreted in a particular way to support the Oedipus complex. The horse phobia was also interpreted in a certain way to support repressed fear of dad. There could be different ways that these could have been interpreted if a different psychologist had been used. This is a strength because this level of subjectivity makes the perspective unscientific. This, in turn, means that it lacks credibility and the findings may be of limited usefulness. Another weakness of the psychodynamic perspective is that it is also very deterministic as it suggests that the underlying determinant of behaviour is the unconscious mind. Freud’s study of Little Hans’ showed that his horse phobia was seen to be due to him having displaced his fear of his father onto horses as a defence mechanism. This is a weakness as it is suggesting that individuals don’t have free will in their behaviour as it is determined by their unconscious mind, therefore they could be seen to have an ‘excuse’ for some behaviours. *** Hancock and Kohlberg’s studies themselves are not psychodynamic themselves but base their studies on information found by Freud.

4. Applications of the Area Free association - technique used in psychoanalysis, patient says whatever comes into their head including inner conflicts and desires, therapist is more passive and allows patient to say whatever thoughts they have, only the patient could unlock the key to their neurosis. Dream interpretation - immediate and accessible form of the unconscious mind, latent content that can uncover causes of anxiety, true desires and emotions can be revealed in dreams (conscious mind relaxes and provides evidence of unconscious), dreams are symbolic wish fulfilment of desires that have been repressed. Each dream has manifest and latent content; manifest (the bit we remember); latent (the bit that can only be accessed during psychotherapy. Hypnosis - temporary trance like state that can be induced in healthy individuals, therapeutic method, inhibitions are lowered, and subconscious mind is able to express itself, could uncover repressed memories. Freudian slips - when you say one thing, but your tongue slips so you say another. Ink blot testing - ink blots are ambiguous and unclear (what you read into them is important), projective test is where patient projects information from the unconscious onto the ink blot, can help patients learn more about what they think and feel in a non-judgemental way, so they can deal with and accept their repressed thoughts.

5. Exam Questions on this Area Outline one principle/concept of the psychodynamic perspective area to psychology [2 marks] One principle of the psychodynamic perspective is that many important influences on behaviour comes from a part of the mind individuals have no direct awareness or knowledge of, the unconscious. This is because childhood is a critical period in development of our behaviour and personality. Outline how Freud’s study links to the psychodynamic perspective area to psychology [4 marks] Freud’s study links to the behaviourist perspective because it involves looking at the unconscious mind and looking at what causes different fears. Freud’s theory of psychosexual development is drawn upon to explain little Hans’ phobias and fantasies. This links to the psychodynamic perspective as one of the principles is that may influences come from a part of the unconscious part of the brain that we have no direct awareness of.

6. Debates that link to the Area Debate

Which Side?

Why?

Study Link

Nature or Nurture Freewill or Deterministic Reductionist or Holistic Individual or Situational Useful Ethical Socially Sensitive Research Scientific

Both Deterministic Reductionist Individual Yes No Yes No...