Psychodynamic assumptions
ASSUMPTION 1: TRIPARTITE
PERSONALITY EXPLANATION
The Id: the pleasure principal which controls
the impulsive and unconscious part of our
personality and is present from birth. A
dominant Id could lead to a psychopathic
personality type.
The Ego: the reality principal which controls
the conscious, rational part of the mind. This
develops around the age of two. A dominant
ego could lead to a narcissistic personality
type.
The Superego: the morality principle which
encompasses the sense of right and wrong.
This is the final part of the personality to
develop and this occurs around the age of
four. A dominant superego could lead to a
neurotic personality type.
Tripartite personality example
According to Freud, criminals are ruled by
their Id and their superego is suppressed.
Criminals, particularly those who commit
violent offences, often lack a sense of
morality and remorse, and seek immediate
pleasure and gratification regardless of the
costs. This is particularly true in the case of
psychopaths. Eysenck further supports the
role of personality on criminal behaviour
recognising that individuals who score
highly in extroversion, neuroticism and
psychopathy tests are more likely to develop
criminality.
ASSUMPTION 2: INFLUENCE
OF CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES
Psychosexual stages:
Influence of childhood experiences
example
Freud believed fixations at the oral stage
of development could lead to an eating
disorder in adulthood or an addiction such
as alcohol or smoking. A fixation at the anal
stage of development could lead to an adult
developing an anal personality type and
potentially OCD. A fixation at the phallic stage
of development could lead to a confused
sexuality and difficulties in building and
maintaining romantic relationships. Freud’s
case study of Little Hans provides further
support for the Oedipus complex.
ASSUMPTION 3: THE
UNCONSCIOUS MIND
Freud proposed that the mind is like an
iceberg. This iceberg metaphor is used
to represent the unconscious mind as
he believed most of what goes on inside
the mind is below the surface and is
unconscious. The bit above the water (the
surface) represents the conscious mind and
this is what we are aware of and is logical.
Freud believed the unconscious mind has
the biggest influence on behaviour.
Freud suggested that the unconscious
mind has unresolved conflicts and these
conflicts influence our behaviour. Conflict
between the Id, Ego and Superego
create anxiety. To protect the ego (the
self) Freud believed that we have ego
defence mechanisms. These occur when
there is conflict between the Id, Ego
and Superego. Some examples of these
defence mechanisms include regression,
repression, displacement, projection and
denial.
The unconscious mind example:
Gothelf et al. (1995) found that regression,
denial, projection and repression were
common to psychiatric patients suffering
from severe adolescence anorexia and
distinguished them from adolescents
without any psychiatric disorder. It was
found that anorexic adolescents relied on
more mature defence mechanisms than
other adolescents.
Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latency
Genital
Birth - 18
months
18 months
– 3 years
3 – 5 years
5 years -
puberty
Puberty
onwards
Focus – mouth.
Frustrated – pessimism, sarcasm
and envy.
Over indulged – optimistic, gullible,
needy.
Focus – anus.
Frustrated – stubborn, possessive,
overly tidy.
Overindulged – messy, disorganised,
reckless.
Focus – genitals.
Frustrated – self-assured, vain,
difficulty maintaining relationships.
Focus - little/no sexual motivation.
No fixations.
Focus - genitals.
No fixations.
