psychodynamic approach evaluations

therapy strength

One strength of the psychodynamic approach is that the approach introduced the idea of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Freud made the first attempts to treat mental disorders psychologically rather than physically, using a form of counselling based on analysing subconscious thought, such as dreams. This will then bring repressed thoughts and emotions to the surface to deal with them. This is a strength because it shows the value of the approach in creating counselling which increases the use of the psychodynamic approach.

therapy limitation

However, psychoanalysis is regarded as inappropriate in modern times. Psychoanalysis can be worse for people with mental disorders like schizophrenia which cause delusions and hallucinations that should not be regarded as real. Their symptoms mean they cannot articulate their delusions in the required way for treatment. This is a limitation because it means that Freudian therapy may not apply to all mental disorders, limiting its value and use.

strength for explaining behaviour

Another strength of the psychodynamic approach is the theory is able to explain some human behaviour. Freud had a large influence on psychology as a whole and his theory was used to explain a wide range of phenomena including abnormal behaviour, personality disorders, and morality in forensic psychology. His theories drew attention to how experiences in our childhood can cause troubles in adulthood and how it can still affect behaviour in the future. This is a strength because the approach has had a positive impact on psychology overall which increases its use when explaining behaviour.

not scientific

A limitation of the psychodynamic approach is that much of the theory is untestable and therefore not scientific. Popper said that in order for a theory to be scientifically valid, it must be testable and falsifiable using empirical evidence that can be clearly observed. This means that the approach does not meet this criteria because it cannot be falsified – many of the concepts Freud suggested occur at an unconscious or preconscious level, meaning they would be impossible to test empirically and objectively. This is a limitation because it means Freud’s theory was pseudoscientific rather than fact.