Psychodynamic Approach

Psychodynamic Approach

1. Basic Assumptions

   • early childhood experiences determine adult behaviour and personality
   • focus on the unconscious mind
   • personality/psyche made up of id, ego and superego which are in conflict
     • id = pleasure principle  ego = reality principle  superego = morality principle
   • understanding of ourselves is distorted by defence mechanisms
     • to avoid psychological pain of truth 

2. Researchers

   • Freud
   • Erikson
     • stages of development are across the whole lifespan
       • stage 1 (0-1)  basic trust vs mistrust  trust vs suspicious (insecurity)
       • stage 2 (1-3)  autonomy vs shame an doubt  self esteem vs shame
       • stage 3 (3-6) initiative vs guilt  initiate activities vs fear of punishment (guilt about feelings)
       • stage 4 (7-12)  industry vs inferiority  sense of achievement and confidence vs feeling inadequate or inferior 
       • stage 5 (12-18)  identity vs role confusion  strong person identity vs confusion 
       • stage 6 (20s) intimacy vs isolation ability to experience love vs isolation
       • stage 7 (20s-60s) generativity vs stagnation  wider outlook vs lack of growth boredom and self involvement 
       • stage 8 (60+) integrity vs despair  sense of satisfaction acceptance of death vs regret (fear of death)

3. Methods

   • Case studies

4. Application to topics

   • Gender
     • Oedipus complex - boy likes the mother but fears castration from the father so identifies with him in order to resolve conflict resulting in gender role development
   • Attachment
     • early relationships are important - Bowlby; infant who doesn't form a secure attachment will have problems in later life (inability to form close relationships or delinquency)
       • Erikson's stage 1 trust vs mistrust also links
   • forensics
     • unresolved conflict from oedipus complex leads to weak deviant or harsh superego

5. Impact

   • psychoanalysis
   • dream analysis
   • considers the importance of childhood experiences

6. Debates

   • Psychic determinism
     • behaviour caused by unconscious drives
   • nature - focus on instinctive needs
     • nurture is secondary - acknowledges the influence of different experiences during psychosexual stages
   • Holistic - concentrates on the individual's life
     • reductionist - reduces all behaviour down to unconscious motives
   • idiographic - concentrates on the individual's experiences
     • nomothetic - generalises principles to all