1.2.3 strengths and weaknesses (psychodynamic approach)

Question 1

What is the first step in evaluation?

Answer 1

1. State the strength/weakness

Question 2

What is the second step of evaluation?

Answer 2

2. Give examples to further explain the strengths and weaknesses

Question 3

What is the third step in evaluation?

Answer 3

3. End with a clear explanation as to why it is a strength/weakness

Question 4

Give strength one of the psychodynamic approach:

Answer 4

1) the psychodynamic approach has practical applications and real world uses

Question 5

Give an example of how psychodynamic approach has real world applications

Answer 5

Kohlenberg et al found that Cognitive Therapy produced a greater focus on the client-therapist relationship and is a promising approach for improving outcomes and interpersonal functioning. It also appears that a focus during sessions on clients’ problematic cognitions about the therapist adds to the efficacy”. Therefore, Freud’s psychodynamic approach has made a long-lasting contribution towards treatment of various mental disorders, such as depression.

Question 6

Why is having practical applications and real world uses a strength

Answer 6

Psychoanalysis can be used when other approaches/therapies have been unsuccessful in resolving disorders. Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are both rooted in the psychodynamic approach and still have modern uses.

Question 7

Give strength two of the psychodynamic approach:

Answer 7

Reflects the complexity of human behaviour

Question 8

Give an example of how psychodynamic approach Reflects the complexity of human behaviour

Answer 8

Behaviourist approach proposes that recovery from mental disorder can be achieved through re-learning, and does not require any consideration of what may have caused the disorder in the first place. the actual cause is ignored (symptom substitution) Freuds method of psychoanalysis seeks to uncover deep meanings and acknowledges that understanding behaviour is a lengthy process

Question 9

Why is Reflecting the complexity of human behaviour a strength

Answer 9

Freuds explanations reflect the complexity of human behaviour and experience. Therefor the psychodynamic approach can be seen as holistic as it recognises that human behaviour is influenced by multiple factors which cannot be seperated The approach improves on those other approaches that reduce explanations for human behaviour to one factor

Question 10

Give strength 3 of the psychodynamic approach:

Answer 10

It takes into account both side of the nature-nurture debate

Question 11

Give an example of how psychodynamic approach takes into account both side of the nature-nurture debate

Answer 11

Freud claimed that adult personality is the product of innate drives (nature) and childhood experiences (nurture) The id is instinctual and is the biological aspect of our personality. It is driven by eros (life drive) and Thanatos (death drive) Influence of nurture comes from psychosexual stages. Frustration or over indulgence in these stages may lead to a fixation causing changes in adult personality

Question 12

Why is taking into account both side of the nature-nurture debate a strength

Answer 12

Freud theory considers both the influence of nature and nurture making it an interactionist approach

Question 13

Give weakness 1 of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 13

It is deterministic

Question 14

What does it mean to be deterministic

Answer 14

We do not have control over our actions We respond passively to our environment We have no free will

Question 15

Give an example of how psychodynamic approach is deterministic

Answer 15

Freud suggested that all behaviour is the product of unconscious, internal conflicts (between the Id and the superego, whilst being mediated by the ego) over which we have no control. This means that every action, even ‘accidental’ slips of the tongue, has some kind of meaning and can give us insight into our unconscious.

Question 16

Why being deterministic a weakness

Answer 16

Sees our personality as pre-determined by forces we cannot change or do not have a choice about May give some people a plausible excuse or behaving unreasonably or an excuse for criminal behaviour. Also implies people can’t be held responsible for their own behaviour

Question 17

Give weakness 2 of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 17

It is reductionist and over simplified

Question 18

What does reductionist mean

Answer 18

It reduces complex behaviours to a set of simple explanations and focuses on a narrow range of biological factors to explain behaviour

Question 19

Give an example of how psychodynamic approach is reductionist

Answer 19

During the 1950’s and 60’s one of the main explanations for autism was that some mothers were very distant from their children and autism was the withdrawal from the lack of involvement. This is an oversimplification of the underlying process of autism

Question 20

Why being reductionist a weakness

Answer 20

it is mechanistic reductionist as it simplifies complex behaviours to the mechanics of the mind (battle between the id,ego and super ego) and early childhood experiences (psychosexual stages) Ignores other important influences such as biochemistry and genetic

Question 21

Give weakness 3 of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 21

It uses unconscious concepts

Question 22

Give an example of how psychodynamic approach uses unconscious concepts

Answer 22

according to Karl Popper the psychodynamic approach does not meet the scientific criterion of falsification, leaving it unfalsifiable and a pseudoscience

Question 23

Why using unconscious concepts is a weakness

Answer 23

Since we are unaware of the unconscious, then it is not possible to objectively and systematically measure it. This does little to improve the scientific credibility of psychology, and indeed has left many with an inaccurate view of psychology as a scientific discipline.