Psychodynamic

• Outline psychodynamic approach

  The psychodynamic approach suggests that human behaviour results from unconscious processes, of which we are unaware. In particular, early childhood experiences determine adult personality of which there are three parts the id, ego and superego. Freud called this the 'Tripartite Personality'.
• Outline the tripartite personality

  The id is the primitive biological part of the mind and present from birth. It consists of basic biological impulses or drives such as hunger, thirst etc and is known as the pleasure principle. The ego mediates between the id and superego. It develops around the age of 2 and it tries to reduce conflict between the id and superego by using defence mechanisms. It is also known as the reality principle.
• Outline defence mechanisms

  Defence mechanisms such as repression or denial, are unconscious and try to stop us feeling threatened or overwhelmed. The superego is our inner parent voice and judges whether actions are right or wrong. It is an internalised representation of the same sex parent and known as the morality principle.
• Outline psychosexual stages of development

  As children develop they pass through the psychosexual stages; oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital stages. At each stage there is a conflict the child must resolve to progress to the next stage and if they do not resolve it then they will become fixated in the stage. The child will carry this fixation into adulthood and it will be reflected in their behaviours.
• What are the strengths of psychodynamic approach

  Case studies

  
  

  Explanatory power

  
  

  RWA
• Elaborate on case studies as a strength of psychodynamic

  In support of the psychodynamic approach, Freud conducted case studies to demonstrate his concepts. For example, his case study of Little Hans demonstrated the Oedipus Complex as Hans feared his father would castrate him for desiring his mother. He displaced this fear onto horses which explained his phobia according to Freud.
• Elaborate on explanatory power as a strength of psychodynamic

  The psychodynamic approach has been used to explain a wide range of phenomena including personality and moral development, gender identity, and the origins of psychological disorders, explaining them as unresolved conflicts from the psychosexual stages. There is large amounts of evidence for this, one example being Massie and Sjanbergs 2002 study who followed 76 people from infancy-30 finding that childhood trauma and poor quality attachment to parents were associated with a higher probability of having suffered a mental disorder.
• Elaborate on RWA as a strength of psychodynamic

  This theory introduced the idea of psychotherapy, specifically psychoanalysis , which was the first attempt to treat mental disorders psychologically rather than physically, employing a range of techniques like dream analysis that are designed to access the unconscious. Psychoanalysis claims to help by surfacing repressed emotions back into the conscious mind, and is the forerunner to many modern day talking therapies like counselling. Therefore it can be said that Freuds approach has made a long lasting positive contribution towards treatment of various mental disorders such as depression
• What are the weaknesses of psychodynamic

  Case studies

  
  

  Researcher bias

  
  

  Abstract concepts

  
  

  Psychoanalysis is harmful

  
  

  Deterministic
• Elaborate on case studies as a weakness of psychodynamic

  However, a major problem with case studies as a sole method of obtaining data is its ideographic nature, as selected participants are often of special psychological interest and so cannot represent the general population, reducing the ecological validity of the approach.
• Elaborate on researcher bias as a weakness of psychodynamic

  Furthermore, this method of data collection relies heavily on researcher interpretation and inference which encourages observer bias that compromises the collected data as researchers will actively look for information that supports their theory and ignore anything presented that conflicts it. Therefore, Freud's methods could be said to lack scientific credibility and validity.
• Elaborate on untestable concepts as a weakness of psychodynamic

  As we are unaware of the unconscious, it isn't possible to objectively and systematically measure it, and because of this, Karl Popper (philosopher of science) argued that the approach doesn't meet the scientific criterion of falsification (it is not open to empirical testing and therefore cannot be disproved), suggesting that Freuds theory is pseudoscientific. The rejection of the scientific method and lack of quantifiable data does little to improve the scientific credibility and therefore validity of this approach and psychology as a whole.
• Elaborate on harmful treatments as a weakness for psychodynamic

  However although Freudian therapists have claimed success for many clients with mild neuroses, psychoanalysis is regarded as inappropriate and harmful for people experiencing more severe disorders such as schizophrenia. This suggests that the Freudian therapy may not apply to all mental disorders therefore questioning the strength of the approaches real world applications.
• Elaborate on deterministic as a weakness for psychodynamic

  Freud's theories suggest that our childhood experiences shape our adult personality and does not acknowledge how other factors in adult life could affect abnormality. He ignores the suggestion of free will and so this is known as 'psychic determinism'. Therefore, psychodynamic approaches could be deemed as limited and an approach like Humanism may be more effective and holistic way of explaining human behaviour, as it acknowledges both psychodynamic and biological causes.