2 Psychodynamic theories 1: Freud – origins and status

Question 1

What three revelations derived from Freud’s experience observing Anna O (Bertha Pappenheim)?

Answer 1

1. The recognition that hysterical symptoms were meaningful;
2. The origin of these hysterical symptoms could be located in the patient’s life history;
3. The cathartic (psychological) method released these trapped emotions

Question 2

What was the problem with Breuer’s approach?

Answer 2

It relied on hypnosis, which doesn’t work on everyone

Question 3

What are the seven components of Freud’s legacy to psychology?

Answer 3

1. Disordered behaviours have a psychological origin
2. Part of the mind is unconscious and determines our behaviour
3. Neurotic symptoms (such as anxiety) both partly express and partly shield hidden impulses
4. Psychoanalysis is a therapy involving talking about the experiences that may lead to resolution of certain problems/symptoms
5. Talking therapy, starting with hypnosis (cathartic method), then the concentration technique, then free association (patient says whatever comes into head - no filter). Increasing autonomy of patient.
6. Stages of psychosexual development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital)
7. Dreams disguise our unconscious material, so dream interpretation is required in order to make sense of this material

Question 4

What is testability?

Answer 4

Empirically testing a prediction that has been deduced from a set of theoretical statements by looking for empirical data that either confirms or falsifies the prediction.

Question 5

What is the Duhem-Quine thesis?

Answer 5

It is impossible to test a hypothesis in isolation, because an empirical test requires one or more background assumptions/hypotheses.

Question 6

What are some criticisms of psychoanalysis?

Answer 6

1. Tenets are untestable, unfalsifiable. Popper: “There was no conceivable human behaviour which would contradict them”
2. Based on limited case studies.
3. It’s lame.

Question 7

Can Freud’s theories be tested?

Answer 7

According to Erwin (2002), over 1,500 experimental studies provide evidence in support of Freudian psychoanalysis. Others may refute them, but some of them are certainly testable.