Psychodynamic, Humanistic and Biological Approaches
Freud's psychodynamic approach suggests your personality has three parts: the id (wants immediate pleasure), ego (deals with reality), and superego (your moral conscience). Much of our behaviour comes from unconscious conflicts between these parts.
Freud believed we develop through psychosexual stages in childhood, and problems at any stage can affect adult personality. Defence mechanisms like repression, denial, and displacement protect us from anxiety by keeping uncomfortable thoughts unconscious.
The humanistic approach takes a completely different view - humans have free will and an innate drive toward self-improvement. Maslow's hierarchy of needs shows we must satisfy basic needs (food, safety) before reaching self-actualisation. Rogers emphasized the importance of congruence between your real and ideal self.
Study Tip: Think of these approaches as different lenses for viewing the same behaviour - each offers unique insights.
The biological approach explains behaviour through genetics, brain structure, and biochemistry. Natural selection has shaped behaviours that help survival, like attachment between infants and caregivers. Modern brain imaging and twin studies show how much of our behaviour has biological roots, leading to effective drug treatments for mental health conditions.