Evaluation Points: 'psychodynamic' approach

Casestudies

• Freud used case studies to support his ideas such as ‘Little Hans’. Hans developed a phobia of horses and Freud interpreted this behaviour.

• whilst casestudies provide proof of the theory, they arent able to provide validation as they are only studies of one induvidual

• this means that the findings cannot be representitive of the whole population, especially since Freud only completed casetudies on middle class people.

Un-scientific

• The Id, Ego, Superego are abstract concepts that cannot be measured. Defence mechanisms are unconscious processes and therefore cannot be directly studied. 

• This means that there is a lack of objective evidence to support the theory.  . 

practical applications

• Freud’s ideas led to the development of psychotherapy. This involves the therapist helping a patient bring repressed memories into their conscious to be dealt with.

• This shows that the approach has uses in the real world as some patients report the technique to be effective.

too deterministic

• This approach suggests people are prisoners of their childhood experiences, unable to escape them and saying their lives will be determined by them.

• This means that individuals do not have free will (or choice) in their behaviour.