Psychodynamic Theory

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Theories of Development

• Psychodynamic Theory
• Epigenetic Theory
• Genetic Epistemology
• Cognitive-Mediation Theory
• Individual Psychology
• Social-Cognitive Learning Theory

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Psychodynamic Theory

• Psychodynamic Perspective Focuses on the Inner
  Person
• Defined Much of behavior is motivated by inner
  forces, memories, and conflicts of which a person
  has little awareness or control.
• They may stem from ones childhood and influence
  behavior throughout the lifespan.
• Creator Sigmund Freud
• Major Principles
• Unconscious forces act to determine personality
  and behavior.
• The unconscious is part of everyones
  personality.
• We are unaware of it though it strongly
  influences our behavior.

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• Foundations of the Theory
• Psychological Determinism Behaviors do not
  happen by chance
• There are no accidents
• Everything happens for a reason
• Everything is determined by preceding events
• Psychodynamic theorists take the stance of ultra
  determinism.
• There is almost never the cause there is
  usually multiple causes.
• Once we find a less threatening and simple
  explanation we stop, this is the wrong way.
• Consciousness is Atypical Most of behavior and
  experience is occurring below the conscious level.

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Psychodynamic Theory

• ID Raw, unorganized, inborn part of personality
• Pleasure Principle Continue producing behavior
  that gives positive stimulus and stop behavior
  that produces a negative stimulus and/or avoid
  negative stimuli
• Primitive desires of hunger, sex, and aggression.
• Satisfaction is ultimate goal

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Psychodynamic Theory

• Ego Rational and reasonable
• Reality Principle Instinctual energy (ID) is
  restrained in order to maintain the safety of the
  individual and keep him/her within societies
  norms
• Superego Sense of right and wrong
• Conscience
• Develops at age 5 or 6
• Learned from others

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Psychodynamic Theory

• According to Freud development consists of
  stages
• Pleasure and gratification are focused on
  particular biological functions.
• If children are unable to gratify themselves
  sufficiently during a particular stage or receive
  too much of it, fixation will occur.

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Psychodynamic TheoryStages of Development

• Oral Anal Phallic
• (Birth to 12-18 months) (12-18 m to 3 years)
  (3 to 5-6 years)
• Latency Genital
• (5-6 years to adolescence) (Adolescence to
  adulthood)

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Psychodynamic TheoryDefense Mechanisms

• People may feel anxious or threatened when the
  wishes of
• the id conflict with social rules.
• Ego has weapons at its command to relieve the
  tension.
• Defense Mechanism Used by the ego to prevent
  unconscious anxiety or threatening thoughts from
  entering consciousness.

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Psychodynamic TheoryDefense Mechanisms

• Repression When the threatening idea, memory, or
  emotion is blocked from consciousness.
• Something bad happens in childhood and you cant
  remember it anymore.
• Projection A Persons own unacceptable or
  threatening feelings are repressed and then
  attributed to someone else.
• Being obsessed with something may make you
  project your guilt onto it.
• Displacement When people direct their emotions
  toward things, animals, or other people that are
  not the real object of their feelings.
• You cant express your anger toward a caregiver
  thus you take it out on other kids.
• Reaction Formation When a feeling that produces
  unconscious anxiety is transformed into its
  opposite in consciousness.
• Someone that is scared to death of their spouse
  may intern believe that they are madly in love
  with them.
• Denial When people refuse to admit that
  something unpleasant is happening.
• Protects a persons self-image
• Preserves the illusion of invulnerability
• It cant happen to me

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Psychodynamic Theory

• Newsweek magazine (2006) History's most
  debunked doctor."
• Anti-empirical
• Proper scientific theories must be potentially
  falsifiable. No experiment or observation can
  ever falsify Freud's theories of psychology.
• Feminists have argued that at worst his views of
  women's sexual development set the progress of
  women in Western culture back decades
• Female inferiority

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Carl Jung

• Modified Freuds Original Theory
• In addition to the individuals own unconscious
  we have
• Collective Unconscious-Contains universal
  memories, symbols, images, and themes
• Developed Archtypes
• Representation of our collective unconscious
• Can be a picture such as a magic circle (Called
  a Mandala in Eastern religions)
• Symbolizes the unity of life and the Totality of
  the self.