Explanatory power

• P- another strength of Freud’s theory is its ability to explain human behaviour
• E- Freud’s theory is controversial in many ways, and occasionally bizarre but it has nevertheless had a huge influence on psychology and contemporary thought
• E- alongside behaviourism, the psychodynamic approach remained a key force in psychology for the first half of the 20th century and has been used to explain a wide range of phenomena including personality development, the origins of psychological disorders, moral development and gender identity
• E- this approach is also significant in drawing attention to the connection between experiences in childhood, such as our relationship with our parents, and our later development
• L- this suggests that, overall, the psychodynamic approach has had a positive impact on psychology- and also on Literature, art, and other human Endeavours