Psychodynamic approach

• A01

  behaviour is due to forces in unconscious mind
• role of the unconscious (Freud)

  all behaviour is determined by underlying psychological conflicts in the unconscious
• Freud iceberg analogy

  1. conscious mind
  2. pre conscious - aware of in dreams / accidentally (slip of tongue)
  3. unconscious- storehouse of instincts and repressed memories
• strengths

  • practical applications - led to psychosis/ hypnosis
  • explanatory power - for personality development and abnormal behaviour
• weaknesses

  • lack emirical support of case studies
  • lack of population validity
  • unfalsifiable
  • gender bias