evaluation of the psychodynamic approach

what are the strengths and weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach?

strengths:

• still relevant

• practical applications

weaknesses:

• untestable concepts

• case study methods

• ignores feee will

still relevant

• freud has been to used effectively explain human behaviours with detail and accuracy for many years

  • has some credibility

practical applications

• has an application/significant contribution to modern day therapy (psychotherapy/psychoanalysis)

  • the aim of psychotherapy is to uncover the neg experiences and thoughts hidden in our unconscious to help people with mental disorders

untestable concepts

• approach consists of Freud’s own personal interpretations of the human mind

• there is no way to scientifically test Freud’s theories in an experiment so there is little to no scientific evidence

  • decreases the reliability of the approach

case study method

• incredibly small samples making it hard to generalise

  • decreases validity

• studying individuals means each case study is unique to that person to findings can’t be generalised

• ethical concerns

• interview method can be inconsistent and lead to social desirability

ignores free will

• completely ignores the element of free will

  • freud suggests we are completely determined by our childhood experiences, contents of our unconscious mind and under the control of our id, ego and superego

    • therefore we can’t say it’s a full and complete explanation of human behaviour