The Pyschodynamic Approach

Point P1

A strength of the psychodynamic approach is real life applications

Exp P1

freud brought to the world of psychology a new form of therapy – psychoanalysis. This approach to psychological therapy employs a range of techniques aimed to access the unconscious e.g. hypnosis and dream analysis.

Expand P1

psychotherapy is a commonly used therapy and helped to prove the way for other talk therapies such as CBT which is a widely used treatment for depression

Link P1

therefore, this means that the psychodynamic approach is useful in real world and improves individuals quality of life increasing the validity of the approach

Counter P1

psychoanalysis is extremely time-consuming and expensive – so it is not suitable for many disorders questioning the validity of the approach

Point 2

L- most of freuds theories were based on case studies.

Explain 2

This means whole theories were developed using a single individual experience and involved his subjective, interpretation and judgement for example little Hans or Anna O

Expand 2

because of this, Freuds early theories are considered a pseudoscience as most of them are hypothetical and many of his concepts cannot be studied using scientific methods.

Link 2

Therefore the early psychodynamic approach is considered highly unscientific and has limited research support. reducing its validity.

Counter 2

However, this approach is the only approach that considered the influence of childhood experience, increasing validity

Point 3

A limitation is that it is deterministic.

Explain 3

The psychodynamic approach has psychic determinism. This means that behaviour is determined by unconscious forces which are influenced by childhood experiences.

Expand 3

For example unresolved conflict from psychosexual stages may be repressed in our unconscious but leads to certain behaviours as an adult such as nail biting or narcissism.

Link 3

Therefore this fails to consider the influence of free will on behaviour and reduces the validity of the approach.

Counter 3

However, the approach does consider the influence of both nature innate components of personality and nurture influence of childhood experiences increased in the validity of the approach.