Psychodynamic Approach and Psychoanalysis

What the resources cover

The page centres on Freud. You will find mind maps on the psychosexual stages, on Id, Ego and Super Ego, and on the levels of mind and personality structure. Several resources turn to the classic case studies: the Rat Man study (Freud, 1909), which looks at the roots of Ernst Lanzer's obsessive-compulsive neurosis, and Little Hans, the five-year-old boy whose anxiety became a phobia. There is also the mind map on John Bowlby (1944) and 44 Children, which uses case studies with a control group to look for a link between thieving and separation.

Where to start

Begin with the mind map called The Psychodynamic Perspective. It sets out the main assumptions: unconscious motives drive much of our behaviour, and childhood is a critical period. Next, open the flashcard deck on Freud's topographical and structural models, which asks what personality is and what the conscious and unconscious mind are.

1. Read the assumptions and the Freud overview maps.
2. Work through the psychosexual stages and the personality structure.
3. Move on to defence mechanisms, using Freud's Defense Mechanisms and Horney's Defense Mechanisms.
4. Finish with the case studies.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then try a quiz such as Psychodynamic approach or Freud Quiz. Note which questions you missed and go back to the matching map or flashcard deck. For evaluation, the maps on the limitations of the psychodynamic approach and Evaluating the Psychodynamic Approach help with essay points. The notes called Outline and Evaluate the Psychodynamic Approach to Abnormality show how an answer can be structured.

Who it suits and where it fits

The resources suit university students and professional candidates, school students and teachers. Some mention A-level Psychology and GCSE Psychology. This unit sits in the Foundations of Psychology strand of the Psychology subject, alongside other approaches you may compare it with.

Next step

Pick one mind map today, then see how much you can recall by taking a quiz. When you are ready, build your own flashcards from the gaps.