The Psychodynamic Approach - A2

Question 1

strengths:
psychoanalysis: a pioneering approach
Maat et al (2009)

Answer 1

It has led to successful treatments: Maat et al. (2009) concluded from psychotherapy studies that psychoanalysis produced improvements in symptoms maintained in the years after treatment. Psychoanalysis also created a shift in psychological thinking by suggesting new methodological procedures for getting empirical evidence. The approach is based on observation rather than introspection.

Question 2

strengths:
scientific support for the psychoanalytic approach
Fisher and Greenberg (1996)

Answer 2

from summarising 2500 studies, they found that experimental psychoanalysis studies compare well with other major areas of psychology. F&G found support for the existence of the unconscious motivation in human behaviour and defence mechanisms

Question 3

limitations:

psychoanalysis is gender-biased

Answer 3

freud’s views on women and sexuality were less developed than that of men’s. This is problematic because he treated women yet had a lack of understanding and also because his theories are still influential today

Question 4

limitations:
psychoanalysis is culture-biased
Sue and Sue (2008)

Answer 4

psychoanalysis has little relevance for people from non-western cultures. Sue and Sue claim that many cultural groups do not value insight into the subconscious in the same way as non-western cultures. eg in China, a depressed person avoids thoughts that cause distress and thus aren’t willing to openly discuss them which contrasts with western belief

Question 5

strength

psychoanalysis: a comprehensive theory

Answer 5

psychoanalysis can be used outside of the realm of psychology. It is often used as a form of literary criticism explaining repressed messages in texts eg, in hamlet, his psyche is believed to be a projection of Shakespeare’s mind