3. Psychodynamic explanation

Question 1

Psychological Disorders (3)

Answer 1

• The psychodynamic approach emphasizes the role of unconscious memories and feelings which may manifest themselves in abnormal behaviour and personality disorders.
• It also looks at the influence of early trauma and the quality of early relationships on later mental health.
• Its suggests that psychological disorders can be the result of defence mechanisms used in response to emotional problems and impulses.

Question 2

Scientific?

Answer 2

Lacks scientific value – we cannot falisify the theory of the personality or measure the unconscious mind

Question 3

Validity?

Answer 3

However there is some validity in the theory as psychoanalysis has been effective at treating disorders

Question 4

Deterministic?

Answer 4

Deterministic – we are controlled by the unconscious mind

Question 5

Individual explanation

Answer 5

Individual explanation- mental illness is linked to a persons unconscious mind, therefore this issue is caused from within the person.

Question 6

Reductionism/Holism

Answer 6

Reductionist – looking at the role of the unconscious mins –
however can also be seen as holistic to an extent as it looks at ID/EGO etc as well as unconscious mind and defense mechanisms

Question 7

Nature/nurture?

Answer 7

Support for nurture- the psychodynamic explanation argues that depression is due to our experiences in childhood which influences our mental well being in adulthood

Support for nature – linked to the stages that we move through in childhood

Question 8

Useful?

Answer 8

Useful – psychoanalysis is effective at treating disorders such as depression and studies have shown that it is more effective than CBT

Question 9

Outline the psychodynamic explanation of mental illness (5 marks)

Answer 9

The psychodynamic explanation of mental illness would suggest that ‘dysfunctional/abnormal ’ behaviours develop from our unconscious mind, this is particularly useful when explaining the mental illness of phobias. Phobias are anxiety disorders that create a marked and persistent fear about an object or situation e.g. flying. These can be learnt in a similar way to any other behaviours through a process of either operant conditioning e.g positive/negative reinforcement or classical conditioning.
Freud’s study on Little Hans can be used to explain phobias. Little Hans had a phobia of horses

Question 10

Psychodynamic Explanation

Answer 10

This theory relies on basic assumption that Mental disorders are caused by unconscious fears, desires or memories

Believes psychological problems often occur due to problems in childhood such as the quality of early relationships with parents

Freud: Little Hans

• Phobia of horses – Ego defence mechanism displaces unconscious fear of his father (resulting from Oedipus complex) onto horses. This protects his conscious mind from distressing thoughts and feelings.
• Evidence: Spectacles and moustache resemble the blinkers and reins of a horse.
• By making little Hans aware of the real cause of his fear this resolves the phobia. This process is psychoanalysis (the original talking cure)