Psychodynamic approach - AO3

Question 1

What is a strength of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 1

• P: Strength = some support for the oedipus complex
• E: Freud’s theory means typical development depends on being raised by at least one male parent
• E: Reker’s and Morey (1990): rated gender identity of 49 boys (aged 3-11). 75% of those judged “gender disturbed” had no biological or substitute father living with him
• L: Being raised with no father - negative impact on gender identity - in line wiht what Freud’s theory could predict

Question 2

What is the counterpoint to the strength?

Answer 2

• P: Limitation = evidence that goes against it
• E: Bos and Sandfort (2010): compared 63 children with lesbian parents and 68 children with heterosexual parents
• E: Found that there was no differences in tems of psychological adjustment or gender identity
• L: Contradicts Freud’s theory - suggests fathers are not necessary for healthy gender identity development

Question 3

What are two limitations of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 3

• P: Limitation = Freud’s theory does not fully explain female development
• E: Freud’s idea of penis envy has been criticised as merely reflecting the era he lived and worked in - males held more power
• E: Horney (1947): Men’s womb envy was more prominent (a reaction to women’s ability to nurture and sustain life
• L: Challenges the idea that female gender development was founded on a desireto want to be like men (an androcentric bias)

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• P: Limitation = theory is psuedoscientific
• E: Freud is criticised for the lack of rigour in his methods. Also many of his concepts are unconscious and untestable
• E: Makes it pseudoscientific as key ideas cannot be falsified i.e proved wrong through scientific testing
• L: Questions the valdity of Freud’s theory as it is not based on sound scientific evidence