Psychodynamic explanations for mental illness in Unit 3 (Mental Health) in Psychology A-Level OCR Exam-style questions with answers that were model answers given by my teacher or my own answers that have been thoroughly corrected by my teacher
Psychodynamic Explanations
Area Mental Health (Applied)
Files
Notes
Outline the psychodynamic explanation for depression + Freud’s hydraulic model
There is a link between childhood bereavement or rejection from a parent and
depression:
Anger is an important part of mourning but children don’t mourn properly as
they can’t express anger towards a loved one
This causes guilt + low self esteem as the ego ‘rages within itself’, thus
causing depression
This is based on Freud’s hydraulic model in which he believes the mind is a
system of psychic energy (where this form of energy is similar to any other
form of energy in that it could be transformed + discharged but not
destroyed) → early trauma leads to a build up of psychic energy which
manifests as symptoms of mental illness
How can the psychodynamic explanation be used to treat mental illness
(Psychodynamic therapy)
As Freud suggest with the hydraulic model that mental illness can be caused
by early childhood trauma, psychotherapy sessions would involve finding the
link between the patient’s childhood and current symptoms.
The therapist would do this by trying to bring memories that have been
repressed into the conscious mind: patient would be encouraged to vividly
relive early experiences (abreaction) + discharge negative emotions
(catharsis).
For example, a depressed patient who was abandoned by a parent during
their childhood would be encouraged to express their anger towards the
parent for leaving them.
The sessions last for several years (1-3 times/week)
Evaluation
Psychodynamic Explanations 1
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