Individual Differences Evaluation - Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
Evaluate how Freudian concepts are out of date…
As centuries progressed psychologists became dissatisfied with the unscientific, unfalsifiable nature of the approach, with the approach having difficulty producing testable hypotheses, meaning explanations offered aren’t seen as valid
Freud (2011) stated that “it remains for the future to decide whether there is more delusion in my theory than I should like to admit”
Evaluate the approach’s failure to produce an effective treatment…
Freud believed that schizophrenic people weren’t suitable candidates for psychoanalysis, as they lack necessary insight
John Rosen (1934) stated that the illness could be treated through psychoanalytical techniques, while Strupp et al (1977) found that psychoanalytic therapies can lead to harmful effects in those with the illness
Techniques often require patients to look back at memories and insights they are emotionally unable to deal with, thus if an effective therapy can’t be produced the theories have no merit
Evaluate the approach’s lack of support for schizophrenogenic mothers…
Concept is at best tenuous with Jacob Kasanin et al (1934) examining hospital case records and finding evidence of maternal overprotection in 33 out of 45 cases of schizophrenia
A third of cases had no maternal overprotection, making it rather unconvincing, with judgements possibly being biased as Jacob wasn’t blind to the hypothesis thus he lacked objectivity
Evaluate how the approach overlooks the role of genetics…
Explanations state development of schizophrenia is due to nurture, despite evidence of biological factors
Leanard Heston (1966) reported diagnosis of schizophrenia in 47 adoptees with schizophrenic mothers and 50 without, where the first group had a 10.6% occurrence while the later had a 0% occurrence
Suggests the co-occurrence of shared genes between mother and child is responsible, rather than how the child is raised
