Psychodynamic Perspective

Question 1

Describe the psychodynamic perspective in the Determinism vs Free Will debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 1

• psychodynamic perspective assumes all behaviour is governed by unconscious drives + motives that an individual has no conscious awareness of
• so assumes ppl have no free will over their behaviour

E.g. As Little Hans was in phallic stage of psychosexual development, he developed fear of horses due to Oedipus Complex

Question 2

Describe the psychodynamic perspective in the Individual vs Situational debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 2

• psychodynamic perspective can be said to support both sides of debate as looks at behaviour being caused by an individual’s personality (e.g. id, ego + superego in Freud), but also takes into account childhood experiences due to the situation

Question 3

Describe the psychodynamic perspective in the Usefulness of Research debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 3

• psychodynamic perspective explains wide range of human phenomenon (e.g. Phobias, memories + mental disorders) + has provided useful practical apps to understand ppl w/ mental health problems
• also has had huge impact on world of counselling, psychotherapy + psychiatry, so can be considered v useful research
• but, as case study method = often used in research, findings not generalisable to wider population as often v limited samples are used, so limiting usefulness

Question 4

Describe the psychodynamic perspective in the Reductionism vs Holism debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 4

• psychodynamic perspective can be said to be holistic, as in therapy looks at individual as a whole, taking into account childhood experiences + unconscious drives + wishes
• but, many other explanations often overlooked when attempting to explain phobias, e.g. Learning theories, genetics, cognitive processes, etc

Question 5

Describe the psychodynamic perspective in the Psychology as a science debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 5

• Psychodynamic perspective tends to be seen as unscientific due to subjective methods used to collect + analyse data

E.g. Freud’s observations of Hans were supplied to him by boy’s father, and were then analysed subjectively, all data was qualitative + based on interpretations made. Also may have been bias as LH’s father was fan of Freud’s work already, + also Freud may have demonstrated researcher bias, analysing data to fit his own theory

Question 6

Describe the psychodynamic perspective in the Ethics debate, and link this to a study.

Answer 6

• psychodynamic perspective often uses case study method so pps can give consent to participate
• but, often children used in research, + as children are v suggestible, may be more susceptible to leading q’s + performing to demand characteristics

Question 7

State the strengths of the Psychodynamic Perspective.

Answer 7

• explains a variety of human phenomenon (e.g. Phobias, memories + mental disorders)
• often uses case study method, allowing for rich, in-depth data + a detailed analysis of one person
• provides many useful practical apps to understand those w/ mental health problems + has huge impact on world of counselling, psychotherapy + psychiatry

Question 8

State the weaknesses of the Psychodynamic perspective.

Answer 8

• v diff to test theory of unconscious drives, whatever is not remembered can be said to be repressed, this = un-falsifiable + so explanations may lack validity
• tends to adopt case study method which uses unrepresentative samples + so findings lack generalisability
• adopts a reductionistic + deterministic view as does not take into account other possible reasons for behaviour + rejects notion of free will

Question 9

Describe the Applications of the Psychodynamic Perspective.

Answer 9

• hypnotherapy: form of psychotherapy used to create subconscious change in patient in form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviours or feelings, + is undertaken w/ subject in hypnosis
• effectiveness = largely debated, w/ vast evidence demonstrating positive implications of hypnotherapy for wide range of issues (smoking / weight loss / anxiety / insomnia etc)
• but, some say when it does work, this more a result of ‘placebo effect’