Psychodynamic Psychology

1
Psychodynamic Psychology

• How well do we know ourselves?
• The unconscious mind
• How do our parents shape us?
• Developmental influences
• What do our dreams mean?
• Symbolism in behaviour experience

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2
Sigmund Freud

• We are animals, driven by basic biological
  motives
• The emergence of society required us to bring our
  animal impulses under control
• Psychology involves understanding how our
  instincts are channeled to produce civilised
  behaviour and what can go wrong with this
  process.

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3
The Psyche (Personality)
Id Instincts
Superego Morality
Ego Reality
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4
Healthy Psyche
OK Guys Im in charge. Anything you want has
to go through me.
OK.
OK.
Ego
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Id
Superego
5
Neurotic
Listen up! Im in charge, and you are not here
to enjoy yourselves. Get ready for a double-size
portion of anxiety with a side order of guilt!
No fun.
gtwhimperlt
Superego
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Id
Ego
6
Psychotic
Sex! Food! Drink! Drugs! NOW!
Who turned out the lights?
Id
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Superego
Ego
7
Psychopathic
OK. First, gimme food. Then I want sex lots
of it and I dont particularly care whether its
with a willing partner. Then I want to hurt
people. Badly. Probably be hungry again after
that so
OK then. Lets go.
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8
The Unconscious
Thoughts Perceptions Memories Stored
knowledge Fears Unacceptable sexual
desires Violent motives Irrational wishes Immoral
urges Selfish needs Shameful experiences Traumatic
experiences
The conscious. The small amount of mental
activity we know about.
The preconscious. Things we could be aware of if
we wanted or tried.
The unconscious. Things we are unaware of and
can not become aware of.
Bad Worse Really Bad
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9
Motives

• Latent motives the unconscious forces that
  drive our behaviour
• Manifest motives the lies we tell ourselves to
  protect us from the truth

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