Evaluating the psychodynamic approach
DRAINS
Deterministic or free will? - correct answer-Determinist
☹ Freud views human behaviour as being a product of internal forces over which we have
no control.
☹ An individual's behaviour is not a product of choice/free will but instead childhood
experiences and urges/forces which exist in their unconscious mind and are not accessible.
We do not choose our childhood experiences, so we have no say in who we ultimately
become.
☹ This is a weakness because as humans we are sophisticated beings capable of exercising
some control over our own behaviour theories which fail to recognise this are oversimplified.
Reductionist or holistic? - correct answer-BOTH - reductionist and holistic.
☹ Psychodynamic psychologists see that human behaviour is influenced by a myriad of
factors which it would not be possible to
separate.
☹ When working with his patients, Freud tried to identify complex and individual explanations
using psychoanalysis techniques; his understanding of the behaviour of individuals was far
from simplistic.
☹ Approach could be considered reductionist because it simplifies complex human behaviour
to the mechanics of the mind (i.e. the battle between the id, ego and superego) and early
childhood experience (psychosexual stages) and ignores other important influences -
biochemistry or genetics.
☹ This is a STRENGTH as reducing human functioning down to singular concepts such as
the tripartite personality may allow for the development of successful treatments and
therapies. Furthermore, the psychodynamic approach reflects an improvement on other
approaches that try to reduce explanations of human behaviour to one factor.
☹ The more that deep and personal meanings for our behaviour are uncovered, the more
likely we are to have a lasting impact when trying to treat patients.
Practical applications? - correct answer-Yes the psychodynamic result has resulted in
practical applications
For example, Dossman et al. found in a study of 666 patients that psychoanalysis decreased
medical visits by 30%, lost work days by 40% and days in hospital by 66%.
This is a strength as it means that the approach has been of value in improving the quality of
life of real individuals. This should be the ultimate aim of any approach.
Idiographic or nomothetic? - correct answer-BOTH - Idiographic and nomothetic
DRAINS
Deterministic or free will? - correct answer-Determinist
☹ Freud views human behaviour as being a product of internal forces over which we have
no control.
☹ An individual's behaviour is not a product of choice/free will but instead childhood
experiences and urges/forces which exist in their unconscious mind and are not accessible.
We do not choose our childhood experiences, so we have no say in who we ultimately
become.
☹ This is a weakness because as humans we are sophisticated beings capable of exercising
some control over our own behaviour theories which fail to recognise this are oversimplified.
Reductionist or holistic? - correct answer-BOTH - reductionist and holistic.
☹ Psychodynamic psychologists see that human behaviour is influenced by a myriad of
factors which it would not be possible to
separate.
☹ When working with his patients, Freud tried to identify complex and individual explanations
using psychoanalysis techniques; his understanding of the behaviour of individuals was far
from simplistic.
☹ Approach could be considered reductionist because it simplifies complex human behaviour
to the mechanics of the mind (i.e. the battle between the id, ego and superego) and early
childhood experience (psychosexual stages) and ignores other important influences -
biochemistry or genetics.
☹ This is a STRENGTH as reducing human functioning down to singular concepts such as
the tripartite personality may allow for the development of successful treatments and
therapies. Furthermore, the psychodynamic approach reflects an improvement on other
approaches that try to reduce explanations of human behaviour to one factor.
☹ The more that deep and personal meanings for our behaviour are uncovered, the more
likely we are to have a lasting impact when trying to treat patients.
Practical applications? - correct answer-Yes the psychodynamic result has resulted in
practical applications
For example, Dossman et al. found in a study of 666 patients that psychoanalysis decreased
medical visits by 30%, lost work days by 40% and days in hospital by 66%.
This is a strength as it means that the approach has been of value in improving the quality of
life of real individuals. This should be the ultimate aim of any approach.
Idiographic or nomothetic? - correct answer-BOTH - Idiographic and nomothetic
