The Psychodynamic Approach

The role of the unconcious: Alarge storehous of biological drives and instincts that have a significant influence on our behaviour and personality. Also, it can contain disturbing and threatening memories that have been repressed, or forgotten. Just below the concious mind, is the preconcious mind which includes thoughts and ideas that we are aware of during dreams or through parapraxes. An example of parapraxes is calling a female teacher 'mum' instead of 'miss'.

Structure of Personality: Freud described personality as 'tripartite':

• Id: Operates on the pleasure principle - getting what it wants. The Id is usually present at birth, and is known to be selfish and demanding for gratification of its needs.
• Ego: Operates on the reality principle - the negotiator of the two other principles. The ego develops around the age of two years, and its there to reduce conflict between demands of id and supergo. It does this by employing defence mechanisms.
• Superego: Operates on the morality principle - represents moral standards (sense of right and wrong) and punishes ego through guilt. The superego forms at the end of the phallic stage, around the age of five.

Psychosexual stages: Freud claimed child development happened…