Back to AI Flashcard MakerPsychology /Y1 Psychology: Biological Aggression - Psychodynamic Theory Part 2
Y1 Psychology: Biological Aggression - Psychodynamic Theory Part 2
This deck covers key concepts from the psychodynamic theory of aggression, focusing on the role of the superego, catharsis, and Freud's theories.
Explain why the superego might be weak.
• If they have a deviant father whose morals will be inferior - If they are a girl and have an unresolved superego • If the Oedipus complex is unresolved due to no father for it to properly develop
Tap or swipe ↕ to flip
Swipe ←→Navigate
1/13
Key Terms
Term
Definition
Explain why the superego might be weak.
• If they have a deviant father whose morals will be inferior - If they are a girl and have an unresolved superego • If the Oedipus complex is unresol...
Briefly describe how a harsh superego can lead to aggression?
• Through identifying with a strict parent • Resulting in feelings of guilt and obsession when the id attempts to get any satisfaction • This can eith...
Briefly describe how a weak superego can lead to aggression?
• Through a poor or absent parent • Individual is selfish and uncaring • Deviance may develop if father is deviant even if the Oedipus complex is full...
Describe how displacement can explain aggression.
Someone who feels anger towards their parent who cannot express it directly to them may displace it onto someone more inferior, such as bullying.
Define 'catharsis'.
An emotional release of unconscious conflicts.
Give an example of cathartic activities.
Watching aggressive behaviour on TV.
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Explain why the superego might be weak. | • If they have a deviant father whose morals will be inferior - If they are a girl and have an unresolved superego • If the Oedipus complex is unresolved due to no father for it to properly develop |
Briefly describe how a harsh superego can lead to aggression? | • Through identifying with a strict parent • Resulting in feelings of guilt and obsession when the id attempts to get any satisfaction • This can either lead to abiding by the law or defying it in order to seek punishment for feelings of guilt. |
Briefly describe how a weak superego can lead to aggression? | • Through a poor or absent parent • Individual is selfish and uncaring • Deviance may develop if father is deviant even if the Oedipus complex is fully resolved |
Describe how displacement can explain aggression. | Someone who feels anger towards their parent who cannot express it directly to them may displace it onto someone more inferior, such as bullying. |
Define 'catharsis'. | An emotional release of unconscious conflicts. |
Give an example of cathartic activities. | Watching aggressive behaviour on TV. |
How might catharsis reduce aggression? | When repressed ideas are brought into the conscious mind the feelings are released; This releases the energy that was being used up; And so the person is 'freed' from these emotions |
Identify the elements of Freud's theory as an explanation for aggression? | Frustration from not receiving gratification of the id; A weak superego that leads to a lack of discipline of the urges of the id; A strong id that seeks immediate gratification irregardless of the possibility of punishment; Displacing hostility towards parents on inferior groups; Feeling hostile towards father (if a boy) and mother (if a girl) due to Oedipus and Electra complexes; If they have a weak superego from a deviant father there will be a lack of moral discipline on aggressive urges for violent crime; If unconscious negative emotions are continually repressed without any energetic release of it from catharsis |
Using the acronym 'EACH', evaluate a supporting and rejecting 'evidence' point. | P - Feshback and Singer (1971) support E - Found that out of 652 boys, aged 8-18, the boys who watched non-violent media showed more aggression than those who didn't E - Supporting the idea of catharsis releasing emotions in a safe way P - Hoffman (1977) rejects E - Found that females constitute a very small percentage of the criminal population E - Refuting the idea that females have a weaker superego and so weaker morals |
Using the acronym 'EACH', evaluate 2 high 'how' points. | P - Freud has high validity E - He used case studies with methods such as dream interpretation E - Gathering in-depth qualitative data P - Feshback and Singer's (1971) research has high generalisability E - They gathered a sample of 652 boys in all stages of development from the ages of 8-18 E - This therefore means that the data with be generalisable to a target population of boys in this age group due to many ppt variables being accounted for |
Using the acronym 'EACH', evaluate 2 low 'how' points. | P - Feshback and Singer's (1971) research has low validity E - They found a correlation between the amount of people who watched violent TV having lower levels of aggression compared to those who watched non-violent TV E - Meaning a cause and effect relationship between the violent TV causing a cathartic release of aggression cannot be established P - Freud has low validity E - Data gathered mostly comes from dream analysis E - Open to subjectivity |
Are there any applications? | P - Yes E - Freud identified new ways to explain and treat mental health problems such as hypnotherapy to access the unconscious E - Therefore allowing him to help people who would previously have gone untreated and has put a stop to barbaric treatments |
Using the acronym 'EACH', evaluate 2 low 'credibility' points. | P - Deterministic E - Freud argues that many reasons for behaviour is hidden in the unconscious mind E - Therefore it ignores the element of free will people may have in choosing whether or not they act on a certain thing regardless of the unconscious reason P - Unscientific E - Concepts such as the id and superego are not measurable E - This means that scientific testing cannot be carried out to test the reliability and validity of these claims |