Evaluating the Psychodynamic Approach

State one weakness.

Weakness: Reductionist

Explain what is reductionism.

Explain:

Freud simplifies complex human behaviours into the mechanics of the mind, such as the id, superego, and ego

Give evidence for reductionism.

Evidence:

1. Id = Wants satisfaction, governed by instinctual drives, and is aggressive if not completed

2. Superego = Moral part of the psyche, makes you act in a way your parents would approve, and makes you feel guilt and anxious when not completed

3. Ego = Reality principle of the psyche, and satisfies the id, which the superego would allow

Why is reductionsim a weakness?

Why:

Weakness because factors, such as biochemistry and genetics, are ignored, giving us a misunderstanding of our behaviours and how we function

State one strength.

Strength: Talks about the effects of nature and nurture

Explain what is nature and nurture.

Explain:

Freud states that our adult personalities are determined by innate drives (nature), and childhood experiences (nurture)

Give evidence for nature and nurture.

Evidence:

• Nature = Id, ego, and superego

• Nurture = Psychosexual stages: Each person goes through 5 sexual stages in their childhood. An example of one of these stages is the oral stage, where the infant receives gratification through oral activities, like sucking and chewing. A key event to pass this stage is breastfeeding. However, this stage could lead to adult obsessions like smoking and nail-biting

Why is nature and nurture a strength?

Why:

Strength because Freud's theory is interactionist because both nature and nurture interact to form the human personality, as nature focuses on innate genetics, while nurture focuses on the impacts of the environment

State second weakness.

Weakness: Scientific

Explain what is scientific.

Explain:

When a study is scientific, variables can be measured, making the research reliable, which the psychodynamic approach isn't

Give evidence for scientific.

Evidence:

Karl Popper (1934) = Karl stated that a good theory can be tested to see its faults, and you can't prove that a theory is right; it can only be falsified. Freud's theory cannot be tested again, as you cannot test the unconscious mind

Why is it being unscientifc a weakness?

Why:

Weakness because Freud's theories weren't controlled, and they were only believable because he was persuasive

State second strength.

Strength: Usefulness

Explain what is usefulness.

Explain:

Usefulness means the quality or fact of being useful in the real world

Give evidence for usefulness.

Evidence:

• Freud was the first person to recognise that psychological factors could be used to explain physical symptoms

• Psychoanalysis has been used to help people overcome psychological problems, as it brings unconscious conflicts to consciousness

• Psychosexual stages explain the influences of early childhood, and unresolved conflicts during these stages can lead to personality traits in adulthood (not passing the oral stage can lead to nail-biting)

(Revise psychoanalysis and psychosexual stages set!)

Why is it being usefulness a strength?

Why:

Strength because…

• It highlights the fact that childhood is a critical development because it shapes personality and mental health

• Psychoanalysis has influenced therapies used to treat mental disorders (e.g. talk therapy)

State third weakness.

Weakness: Deterministic

Explain what is determinism.

Explain:

• Determinism means all human actions are caused by prior events

• Our actions are pre-decided by forces we can’t control, like unconscious desires or past experiences

Give evidence for determinism.

Evidence:

• Freud saw infant behaviour as determined by innate forces, causing adult behaviour

• We have no free will/choice in who we become/behave

• This is referred to as a deterministic viewpoint, as it sees personality as pre-determined by forces that we can't change

Why is determinism a weakness?

Why:

Weakness because…

• Deterministic approach implies we are not able to change our behaviour if we want to

• Gives people excuses for behaving unreasonably

• People can't be held responsible for their behaviour

State third strength.

Strength: Holistic

Explain what is holism.

Explain:

• Holistic means looking at the whole person, instead of just focusing on one problem or symptom

• It recognises that human behaviour is influenced by multiple factors which cannot be separated

Give evidence for holism.

Evidence:

• The psychodynamic approach doesn’t improve approaches in explaining human behaviour because it doesn’t pinpoint one thing

• Behaviourism states that recovery from a mental disorder can be achieved through re-learning

• Does not consider what caused the disorder

• Original symptoms may reappear

Why is it being holism a strength?

Why:

Strength because…

• Freud's psychoanalysis seeks to uncover deep meanings

• Acknowledges that understanding behaviour is a lengthy process