Compare and contrast psych app with pos app (10)

• Free will vs determinism

  P: a major contrast between the psychodynamic and positive approaches is their stance on free will and determinism.

  E: freud’s psychodynamic theory is highly deterministic, claiming that behaviour is shaped by unconscious drives and early childhood experiences. For example, the psychosexual stages suggest that unresolved childhood conflicts result in adult fixations and behaviour beyond our control. In contrast, the positive approach embraces free will, proposing that individuals have the power to shape their future by developing personal strengths and virtues.

  E: the positive approach is often seen as more empowering, promoting proactive mental health strategies and personal growth. This can be especially beneficial in therapeutic settings, where individuals are encouraged to take control of their well-being. However, critics argue that this may underestimate the influence of past trauma or unconscious…
• Free will vs determinism 2

  E: factors, which the psychodynamic approach is better equipped to explore.

  L: therefore, while both approaches aim to explain human behaviour, the psychodynamic approach focuses on internal constraints from the past, whereas the positive approach promotes self-determination and growth for the future.
• Usefulness and applications

  • P: both approaches have practical applications, but they are applied in different domains with varying levels of scientific support.

  • E: the psychodynamic approach has contributed significantly to the development of psychotherapy, especially in understanding how childhood trauma may influence mental illness. Freud’s psychoanalysis has paved the way for modern therapeutic techniques. On the other hand, the positive approach has been used widely in schools, therapy, and even the military - such as resilience training in the US Army and Positive Psychology Curricula (PPCs) in education.

  • E: while the psychodynamic approach provides deep insight into the root cause of disorders, its lack of scientific testability weakens its credibility (e.g. Unfalsifiable concepts like the id). In contrast, the positive approach, though sometimes criticised as idealistic or ethnocentric, is more compatible with …
• Usefulness and applications 2

  • E: … with scientific research methods and is supported by neuroscience, such as Wager et al.’s (2003) findings on positive emotion and brain activity.

  • L: thus, both approaches are useful but differ in focus - one aims to treat mental illness by uncovering hidden conflicts, the other to promote well-being through strengths-based interventions
• Conclusion

  In summary, the psychodynamic and positive approaches differ fundamentally in their views on human nature: one sees behaviour as shaped by unconscious forces, the other by conscious choice and potential. While both have contributed meaningfully to psychology, their contrasting methods reflect different philosophical and practical priorities.