5.2.1

Psychodynamic Approach

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Psychodynamic Approach: Strengths

There are several different approaches to the study of psychology: psychodynamic, cognitive, biological, and learning.

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Strengths

  • Strengths of the psychodynamic approach include:
    • Being the first to look at psychological causes.
    • Linked to biological needs.
    • Provided methods for therapy.
    • Looked at how experiences affect development later on.
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Early development

  • Historically, abnormal behaviour was believed to be due to the Devil’s work or evil spirits.
  • Abnormal behaviour was also thought to be due to physical causes.
  • This was the first approach to focus on psychological causes.
    • For example, the psychodynamic approach links depression to either inwardly directed anger or an excessive super-ego (amongst other causes).
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Therapy

  • Therapy is an important aspect of psychology.
  • Through psychoanalysis, patients can have a better understanding of their problems by looking for the cause.

Psychodynamic Approach: Weaknesses

There are several different approaches to the study of psychology: psychodynamic, cognitive, biological, and learning.

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Weaknesses

  • Weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach include:
    • Subjectivity.
    • Lack of falsifiability.
    • Issues with psychoanalysis therapy.
    • Too much emphasis on the past.
    • No establishment of cause and effect.
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Subjectivity

  • Freud examined patient’s dreams. So he had the potential for subjectivity.
  • His conclusions were unreliable and had bias.
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Falsifiability

  • Falsifiability is the concept that scientific theories should be able to be proven false.
  • As Freud’s interpretations and conclusions were based on the unconscious mind, they are difficult to prove false.
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Time and financial cost

  • While therapy can be of great benefit, psychoanalysis can be time-consuming and expensive.
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Emphasis on past experience

  • Psychoanalysis focuses on the past - the patient’s childhood traumas and conflicts are discussed.
  • This can be distressing and turn the patient's focus from the present issues they are suffering from.
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Cause and effect

  • Freud was unscientific in his approach. The scientific method was not followed.
  • As a result, it is nearly impossible to establish cause and effect of behaviour.
  • This was a strength of the cognitive and behavioural approaches.

Jump to other topics

1Social Influence

2Memory

3Attachment

4Psychopathology

5Approaches in Psychology

6Biopsychology

7Research Methods

8Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

9Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

11Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

12Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

13Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

14Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

15Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

16Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

17Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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