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Psychodynamic Approach - Comparison - Coggle Diagram
Psychodynamic Approach - Comparison
Psychodynamic approach - strengths
Strengths
Being the first to look at psychological causes.
Linked to biological needs.
Provided methods for therapy.
Looked at how experiences affect development later on.
Early development
Historically, abnormal behaviour was believed to be due to the Devil's work or evil spirits.
Abnormal behaviour was also thought to be due to physical causes.
This was the first approach to focus on psychological causes.
For example, the psychodynamic approach links depression to either inwardly directed anger or an excessive super-ego (amongst other causes)
Psychology and biology link
As well, this was the first approach to examine the link between psychological health problems and biological needs.
If a person's biological needs are not fulfilled, then a person can develop a disorder.
Therapy
Therapy is an important aspect of psychology.
Through psychoanalysis, patients can have a better understanding pf their problems by looking for the cause.
Psychodynamic approach - weaknesses
Weaknesses
Subjectivity
Lack of falsifiability
Issues with psychoanalysis therapy
Too much emphasis on the past
No establishment of cause and effect
Subjectivity
Freud examined patient's dreams. So he had the potential for subjectivity.
His conclusions were unreliable and had bias.
Falsifiability
The concept that scientific theories should be able to be proven false.
As Freud's interpretations and conclusions were based on the unconscious mind, they are difficult to prove false.
Time and financial cost
While therapy can be of great benefit, psychoanalysis can be time-consuming and expensive.
Emphasis on past experiences
Psychoanalysis focuses on the past - patient's childhood traumas and conflicts are discussed
This can be distressing and turn the patient's focus from the present issues they are suffering from.
Cause and effect
Freud was unscientific in his approach. The scientific method was not followed.
As a result, it is nearly impossible to establish cause and effect of behaviour.
This was a strength of the cognitive and behavioural approaches.