Essay writing - the psychodynamic approach

• Psychoanalysis was a new and inventive approach at the time


  Psychologists were able to use methodological methods to gather evidence (case studies) and used observations instead of introspection. De Maat et al.'s (2009) review of psychotherapy studies showed psychoanalysis caused improvement in symptoms of people with mental disorders e.g. anxiety and depression.
• There is scientific support for psychoanalysis


  Fisher and Greenburg (1996) summarised 2500 studies that showed claims that had been tested and confirmed using scientific methodology. This adds scientific credibility.
• Psychoanalysis is a gender biased approach


  Freud has less developed views on female sexuality, and was ignorant to the differences between male and female sexuality. This is an issue because he treated many women and his theories still hold influence today.
• Psychoanalysis is a culture-biased approach


  Sue and Sue (2008) argued that psychoanalysis has little application to non-Western cultures as psychoanalysts argue that mental disorders are a result of 'locked up' psychological trauma that can be helped by talking therapy. However, in non-Western cultures e.g. China, this view of treatment is not shared.
• Psychoanalysis is a comprehensive theory


  Psychoanalysis can be used to explain things beyond psychology e.g. in literature. Many argue that Hamlet's psyche is a reflection of Shakespeare's mind and so this approach can give insight into the mind of authors and characters.