Evaluate strengths + weaknesses of psych app (10)

• Strength

  • P: a significant strength of psychodynamic approach is it’s interactionist stance, acknowledges both innate biological drives and environmental influences on behaviour

  • E: fraud’s theory posits that the id represents our instinctual drives (nature), while ego and superego develop through early childhood experiences (nurture)

  • E: dual consideration allows for a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour. Concept of psychosexual stages illustrates how unresolved conflicts during early development can manifest in adult personality traits

  • L: by integrating both nature and nurture, approach offers a more holistic perspective, enhancing its explanatory power regarding complex human behaviours
• Weakness

  • P: conversely, notable weakness is its lack of scientific rigour

  • E: many of freud’s concepts, like unconscious mind and defence mechanisms, are abstract and not easily testable

  • E: makes empirical validation challenging, reducing the approach’s credulity within scientific community. For example, theory’s reliance on case studies, like Little Hans, lacks control and replicability found in experimental research

  • L: undermines reliability of its findings and limits its acceptance as a scientifically robust explanation of behaviour
• conclusion

  • while psychodynamic approach provides valuable framework by considering both biological and environmental factors, it’s scientific limitation hinder its empirical support

  • balancing these aspects is crucial when evaluating its overall contribution to psychological understanding