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Psychology: The Psychodynamic Approach

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Course
PY1 - Approaches in Psychology

Institution
WJEC

This document covers all elements of the Psychodynamic Approach in psychology including assumptions, studies, strengths and weaknesses. It provides both information and inspiration to those who struggle with writing and organising notes.

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Uploaded on February 25, 2022
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Written in 2021/2022
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psychology
wjec
psychodynamic approach
approaches of psychology
notes

Study Level
A/AS Level
Examinator
WJEC
Subject
Psychology
Unit
PY1 - Approaches in Psychology

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The Psychodynamic Approach

Assumptions:
 Our behaviour and feelings as adults (including psychological problems) are rooted in
our childhood experiences
 Our behaviour and feelings are powerfully affected by unconscious motives
 Personality is made up of three parts: the id, ego, and superego
 All behaviour has a cause (usually unconscious), even slips of the tongue. Therefore
all behaviour is determined
 Defence mechanisms are unconscious methods used by the ego to prevent being
overwhelmed.
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud devoted his career to study of the human mind & development, especially
the interaction between conscious & unconscious processes. Freud suggested that the part
of our mind that we know about and are aware of is the conscious mind. However this is
simply the tip of the iceberg and most of our mind is made up of the unconscious. This is
made up of biological drives, instincts that influence our behaviour and personality but also
threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed. Just under the surface of
our conscious mind is the preconscious which includes thoughts and ideas which we may
become aware of during dreams or ‘slips of the tongue’.

Freud’s ‘Iceberg Model of Personality Structure
 Above the water:
o Conscious: Contact with the outside world
 Below the surface:
o Preconscious: Material just beneath the surface of awareness
 Deep Water:
o Unconscious: Difficult to retrieve material; well below the surface of
awareness (all psychic energy originates in the unconscious)
Structure of Personality
Freud proposed that the personality is made up of three interacting elements:
1. The id
2. The ego
3. The super-ego
The id (birth):
 The primitive part of our personality
 A pool of unconscious/instinctual psychic energy we are born with
 The most important aspect is the libido
 The id operates on the pleasure principle - constantly trying to gratify these instincts
through sex & other forms of pleasurable behaviour
 This can lead to aggression and violence
The ego (2 years old):
 Represents our conscious self
 Develops during early childhood
 Regulates interaction with our immediate environment

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