The Psychodynamic Approach Assumptions and Freud’s Theory of Personality Development

What does the term Psychodymanic mean? The essence of psychodynamic approach is to explain behaviour in terms of its dynamics. i.e. the forces that drive the approach, in this case it is the psychological forces. The best known example of this approach is Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory of Personality, a.k.a Personality Development Theory. Other Psychodynamic theories include Carl Jung’s work too.

Fact-sheet: Sigmund Freud Full name: Sigismund Schlomo Freud (1856-1939) Raised and lived in Vienna, Austria, where he stayed until the Nazi occupation forced to him to leave in 1938, as he was a Jew. Freud died in London and you can visit the house where he lived and died here. Details are on: www.freud.org.uk

How did Psychoanalysis come about? Freud studied medicine and became interested in neurology and hysteria. He was the first to challenge the view that mental disorders were caused by physical illness. He proposed that psychological factors were responsible when people become ill.

Assumption 1: Behaviour is influenced by the three parts of the mind Freud believe that the adult personality is structured into three parts which develop at different stages in our lives. The Id: This is impulsive and unconscious part of our personality and we have the Id at birth. It demands immediate satisfaction, wanting pleasure and gratification at any cost. This is known as the Pleasure Principle.

Assumption 1 Continued… The Ego: This is the conscious, rational part of the mind that develops around 2 years of age. It’s job is to carry out the Reality Principle: i.e. to work out realistic ways of balancing the demands of the id in a socially acceptable way. The Superego: This forms at about age four and embodies the child’s sense of right and wrong as well as his/her sense of self/identity. It seeks to perfect and civilise our behaviour, which is usually learnt via identifying with parents and others.

Assumption 2: Behaviour is influenced by different levels of consciousness and ego defences. Freud proposed that the mind is like an iceberg! What goes on inside the mind mostly lies under the surface, in what he calls, the Preconscious and Unconscious levels of the mind. The Conscious level of the mind is logical and accessible. The Unconscious level is ruled by pleasure-seeking and cannot be directly accessed. How do you think it can it be accessed then?

Assumption 2 Continued… The answer is of course, dreams! The Unconscious is also related to ego defence mechanisms- i.e. conflicts between the id, ego and superego. Such conflicts create anxiety and the ego protects itself with various ego defences. However, if these ego defences are used too much, they can cause disturbed behaviour.

Assumption 2 Continued… Examples of other ego defences or defence mechanisms include:- Regression: i.e. to go back an earlier developmental stage (‘being a baby’ instead of behaving more ‘grown-up’) Displacement: i.e. transferring impulses from one person/object to another. Projection: i.e. attributing undesirable thoughts to someone else. Repression: i.e. pushing painful memories to the back of our minds.

Assumption 3: Behaviour is influenced by early childhood experiences As the ego is not developed enough, it makes dealing with trauma difficult during childhood. So, the trauma is then repressed into the child’s unconscious mind. For example, a child may experience the death of a parent and repress the grief, loss and sadness. Later in life, if other losses may cause this person to re-experience these repressed feelings, leading to depression. Similarly, unexpressed anger when directed inwards towards one’s self can also cause depression.

Assumption 3 Continued… There are key developmental stages in early childhood, according to Freud. Getting stuck on to any one of these stages (due to frustration or overindulgence) is called Fixation. Being fixated may have a lasting affect on one’s personality. Can you think of an example of Fixation? What defence mechanisms do you use?