psychodynamic approach A03

Question 1

Real world application

Answer 1

P) one strength of the psychodynamic approach is that it introduced the idea of psychotherapy.

E) freud brought psychoanalysis to the world - first attempt to treat mental disorders psychologically rather than physically. this new therapy came with a range of techniques designed to access the unconscious, such as dream analysis

E) Psychoanalysis claims to help clients by bringing their repressed emotions into their conscious mind so they can be dealt with. psychoanalysis is the forerunner to many modern - day ‘talking therapies’ such as counselling that have since been established

L) this shows the value of psychodynamic approach in creating a new approach to treatment.

Question 2

counterpoint to real world application.

Answer 2

• freudian therapists have claimed success for many clients with mild neuroses, psychoanalysis is regarded as inappropriate, even harmful, for people experiencing more serious mental disorders. (such as schizophrenia). symptoms of schizophrenia make it hard to articulate their thoughts in the way required by psychoanalysis. - this suggests that freudian therapy and theory may not apply to all mental disorders.

Question 3

Explanatory power

Answer 3

P) another strength is Freuds theory has the strength to explain human behaviour.

E) alongside behaviourism, the psychodynamic approach remained a key force in psychology for the first half of the 20th century and has been used to explain a wide range of phenomena including personality development and gender development (origins of psychological disorder, moral development, and gender identity)

E) the approach is significant in drawing attention to the connection between experiences in childhood, such as our relationships with our parents, and our later development

L) this suggests that, overall, the psychodynamic approach has had a positive impact on psychology - and also on literature, art and other human endeavours

Question 4

untestable concepts

Answer 4

P) One limitation of the psychodynamic approach is that much of it is untestable.

E) The philosopher of science Karl Popper argued that the psychodynamic approach does not meet the scientific criterion of falsification. It is not open to empirical testing (and the possibility of being disproved). Many of Freud’s concepts (such as the ld and the Oedipus complex) are said to occur at an unconscious level, making them difficult, if not impossible, to test.

E) Furthermore, his ideas were based on the subjective study of single individuals, such as Little Hans, which makes it difficult to make universal claims about human behaviour.

L) This suggests that Freud’s theory was pseudoscientific (not a real science)
rather than established fact.