The Psycodynamic Approach

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Describe and discuss the psychodynamic approach, refer to evidence in your answer. Freud’s psychodynamic approach is about the influence of unconscious childhood behaviour and experiences that determined our adult behaviour later on in life. This has many different features being the psychosexual stages, personality and defence mechanisms. Freud suggests that particular features of this approach will have a large effect on behaviour in later life such as sexuality, cleanliness and habits. Freud’s approach of the psychosexual stages suggested development unconsciously takes place at different stages, conflict to overcome at the stage or result of failure concludes in fixation at that certain stage having an influence on adult behaviour. The psychosexual stages consist of five stages from 0 years to 18 years beginning from the oral stage at 0-1years, the anal stage, 1-2 years, The phallic stage, 3-6 years, The latent stage 6-10 years (up to puberty) and finally the genital stage, 12-18 years. The first stage, the oral stage. This takes place between birth and 1 year old. Having the mouth as the main energy this is because this is the first area of the body to be associated with pleasure and gratification. At this stage there are two sub stages, the oral passive then the oral aggressive. Being fixated at the oral aggressive stage may nail bite, smoke or bite pen lids as some examples. Conflict to overcome this this is weaning. The second stage is the anal stage. This is between one and two years old. At this stage the focus of energy moves to the anal area. Freud suggested gratification comes from expelling and withholding faeces. This occurs when the child is being potty trained. If this stage is incorrectly carried out it may result in the child having a anal personality in their adult life. This can be obsessively tidy and organised and the person being
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