Outline and Evaluate the Psychodynamic Approach to Psychopathology

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Outline and Evaluate the psychodynamic approach to psychopathy The psychodynamic approach believes that mental disorders have psychological, not physical causes and underlying psychological conflicts of which they are unaware. Freud's psychodynamic approach states that mental illnesses are the result of unresolved childhood conflicts. These conflicts occur between the id which is present at birth and seeks immediate gratification by operating with the “pleasure” principle, the ego, which develops after
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around one year as a consequence of experiencing reality and is therefore rational. Lastly, the superego develops after around 3-6 years and is the sense of right and wrong and strives for the idea behaviour. The conflict occurs because they each represent different motives and this conflict causes the individual to experience anxiety. In order to relieve this anxiety, ego defences such as repression (moving unpleasant thoughts into the unconscious), projection (blaming someone else for something a child can not deal with) and regression (behaving like a child) are used. However, if overused, these defences can cause disturbed behaviour. Early ...

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