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Welcome
to the Psychodynamic Approach
The psychodynamic approach was mainly initiated by Sigmund Freud (6th May 1856 - 23rd September 1939), a Viennese doctor who specialise in neurology. He became interested in hysteria, a psychiatric complaint where there are physical symptoms that do not have physical causes, and became convinced that unconscious mental processes were responsible for not only this type of disorder, but lots of other disorders and even for 'normal' personality. He developed psychoanalysis, a set of techniques for treating the unconscious causes of mental disorders and built up an underlying explanatory psychoanalytic theory of how human personality and abnormality develop from childhood. (I have explained Freud's theory elsewhere on my site, you can access it here.) Freud's theory and approach were influenced by the ideas and society of the time, particularly with his early work with Jean-Martin Charcot (29th November 1825 - 16th August 1893), the Parisian doctor who used hypnosis, and Josef Breuer (15th January 1842 - 20th June 1925) who pioneered the cathartic method. Freud's psychoanalytic approach had a great impact on psychology and psychiatry, and has been developed in different ways by other psychodynamic theorists such as Carl Jung (26th July 1875 - 6th June 1961), Alfred Adler (7th February 1870 - 28th May 1937), Melanie Klein (30th March 1882 - 22nd September 1960), Anna Freud (his daughter) (3rd December 1895 - 9th October 1982) and Erik Erikson (15th June 1902 - 12th May 1994). Assumptions These are the assumptions that were developed by Freud, later psychodynamic theorists agreed with these to a differing extent. The most common assumptions are listed below: Unconscious processes - many important influences on behaviour originate in the part of the mind that we have no direct awareness of, the unconscious. Psychodynamic conflict - different parts of the mind are in a state of constant dynamic struggle and the consequences of this struggle are important in understanding behaviour. Emotional drives - Freud believed that behaviour is motivated by "libido", a term he used to describe the life forces, the drive for food etc. These drives create psychic energy that will build up and create anxiety and tension if it cannot be released in some form. While not all psychodynamic theorists agree with Freud's view, many do see that emotional motivation is important. Development - personality is shaped by relationships, experience and conflict over time, particularly in childhood. Methods of Investigation Freud used the Case Study method when tresting his clients (seeing them individually and investigating them in detail) he often used the clinical interview to probe their past and question their behaviour. He analysed and interpreted the symbolism of all they said and did. These methods remain the norm fo most psychodynamic theorists. Two other methods that Freud would use are: Free Association - the uninhibited expression of thought associations, no matter how bizarre or embarassing. Dream Analysis - the 'royal road' to the unconscious, the analyst attempts to decode the symbols and unravel the hidden meaning of a dream, from a dreamer's report. Contribution to Psychology Freud used his theory to explain a vast number of topics, including: Personality Development - due to fixation/defence mechanisms. Moral/Gender Development - the result of the Oedipus complex. Aggression - caused by the pressure of some drives and displacement. Memory - forgetting caused by repression. slips of the tongue, the shaping of civilisations and customs etc. Strengths Freud's ideas have made a huge impact on psychology and psychiatry, and are still being discussed and used today, around 100 years after he started developing them. Freud thought that the case studies like 'Little Hans' and 'Anna O.' his belief in determinism and his detailed collection of data provided scientific proof of his ideas. Psychodynamic therapies drew attention to the psychological causes of mental disorder. Psychoanalysis has enourmous explanatory power and has something to say on a huge variety of important topics. Later psychodynamic theory tried to deal with the weaknesses of psychoanalysis and develop the strengths. Weaknesses Psychodynamic psychology has been accused of having vague concepts that can be used to explain anything but which can predict little. Psychodynamic psychology has been accused of having concepts that are difficult to test and verify scientifically. Experimental research that has been conducted often fails to support psychodynamic ideas, and that which does not seem to support them can often be attributed to alternative causes. Using unrepresentative samples and techniques that were no fully objective and therefore open to bias. Being linked with unsuccessful psychodynamic therapies. Having many concepts that can be explained by more scientific approaches such as cognitive psychology. |
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