Psychodynamic Evaluation

Question 1

Is the psychodynamic approach deterministic or free will?

Answer 1

Deterministic - prominent parts of the tripartite personality and effects psychosexual development

Question 2

Is determinism a strength or weakness in the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 2

Weakness - Does not take into account environmental factors on behaviour and the idea we are able to control behaviour which may remove the blame from people who behave in inappropriate ways

Question 3

Is the psychodynamic approach reductionist or holistic?

Answer 3

Reductionist - simplifies behaviour as a result of the id, ego and superego whilst ignoring other factors

Question 4

Is reductionism a strength or weakness in the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 4

Weakness - Oversimplified the reasons for behaviour and ignores other factors such as upbringing and genetics that affect behaviour

Question 5

Has the psychodynamic approach been applied to any areas of society?

Answer 5

Briggs et al (2019) found a significant reduction in suicidal behaviours and self-harm when patients undergo psychoanalytical therapies

Question 6

Are the applications of the psychodynamic approach a strength or weakness?

Answer 6

Strength - applied for many years to help treat disorders through therapy and reduce symptoms

Question 7

Is the psychodynamic approach ideographic or nomothetic?

Answer 7

Both
Nomothetic - tripartite personality model is applied to all
Idiographic - emphasis on individual experience through childhood experience

Question 8

Is both being nomothetic and idiographic a strength or weakness in the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 8

Strength - considers both sides of the argument and includes both throughout the approach in psychology

Question 9

Is the psychodynamic approach nature or nurture?

Answer 9

Interactionist (both) explains innate drives with the personally model however stresses the importance of childhood experiences and the journey through the psychosexual stages

Question 10

Is the interactionanism of the psychodynamic approach a strength or a weakness?

Answer 10

Freud’s theory considers the influence of both nature and nurture on behaviour

Question 11

Is the psychodynamic approach scientific or unscientific?

Answer 11

Unscientific - the existence of the id, ego and superego cannot be proven or disproven (unfalsifiable)
Popper (1934) argues to accept a theory it must be falsifiable therefore cannot be considered scientific