Evaluation of freuds theory

Question 1

Main strength regarding usefulness?

Answer 1

It provides many practical ad useful ways n which we can better understand and even help children

• Such as Freud’s emphasis on needing both opposite sex parental figures
• Play therapy which is based on his approach has been found to be useful by other psychologists such as Axline in helping withdrawn children

Question 2

Strength regarding Evidence?

Answer 2

There is some evidence to suggest that children demonstrate sexuality at a young age and so could experience the Oedipus/Electra complex and could also suffer with problems in adulthood caused by fixations in childhood

Question 3

Study of little Hans supports the theory?

Answer 3

• Demonstrated his behavior was consistent with the Oedipus complex such as wanting to sleep in his mothers bed and being respectful to his father
• His behavior changed as he left the phallic stage when he had resolved the issue associated with it

Question 4

How does Melanie Klein support?

Answer 4

Found that children do show a strong opposite sex parent preference consistent with the Oedipus complex

Question 5

How does Melanie Klein refute?

Answer 5

She found the preferences to the opposite sex parents occurred at a much younger age than Freud stated (Younger than those in the Phallic stage)

Question 6

how does Brown and Harris support?

Answer 6

They found that Girls who lost their mothers in the first 6 months of their life were more likely to suffer from depression in adulthood showing that problems with progression through the phallic stage can cause issues

Question 7

Weakness regarding Evidence?

Answer 7

• There is a lack of scientific evidence because the unconscious mind can only be analysed using symbolic nature
• The data is therefore highly subjective
• So main source of evidence for Freud’s theory’s comes from case studies which we have to be careful generalizing because the participant in the study may be unique and not representative of other children