PSYCHODYNAMIC AO3
Strengths : Limitations :
1. There are case studies to support the 1. The concepts of Id, ego and superego are very
psychodynamic approach abstract and difficult to test experimentally
- For example, Little Hans in 1909 - SO evidence is obtained from case studies
- Developed a phobia of horses when he (Little Hans and Anna O). However, the
was 5 after seeing a horse that was pulling sample used in these case studies is
a carriage, fall over and put its feet in the mainly Austrian so lacks population
air validity.
- Little Hans was terrified by this & - These case studies used mainly
according to Freud he was experiencing unstructured interviews so yielded
the Oedipus Complex → displaced the fear qualitative data.
of his father onto the horse - The need for interpretation of the material
- Thus, horses were merely a symbolic gathered means that it is biased on the
representation of Han’s real unconscious part of the researchers as they tend to
fear of castration experienced during the interpret the data in a way that supports
Oedipus Complex THEREFORE supporting their theory.
Freud’s theory - Furthermore, the fact that two different
2. Had a huge influence in psychology & Western researchers can reach completely
contemporary thought different interpretations of the same case
suggests that the methods lack objectivity.
- Alongside behaviourism, the
2. However, Freud’s theory was based on intensive
psychodynamic approach has remained a study of single individuals who were often in
dominant force in Psychology for the first therapy.
half of the 20th century and has been used - E.g. Little Hans.
to explain a wide range of phenomena - Although Freud’s observations were
including personality development, incredibly detailed and carefully recorded,
abnormal behaviour, more development critics have suggested that it is not
and gender. possible to make universal claims about
- The approach is also significant in human nature based on studies of such a
drawing attention to the connection small number of individuals who were
between experiences in childhood, such as deemed psychologically abnormal and
parental relationships, and later therefore results are not able to be
development. generalised to the wider population.
Strengths : Limitations :
1. There are case studies to support the 1. The concepts of Id, ego and superego are very
psychodynamic approach abstract and difficult to test experimentally
- For example, Little Hans in 1909 - SO evidence is obtained from case studies
- Developed a phobia of horses when he (Little Hans and Anna O). However, the
was 5 after seeing a horse that was pulling sample used in these case studies is
a carriage, fall over and put its feet in the mainly Austrian so lacks population
air validity.
- Little Hans was terrified by this & - These case studies used mainly
according to Freud he was experiencing unstructured interviews so yielded
the Oedipus Complex → displaced the fear qualitative data.
of his father onto the horse - The need for interpretation of the material
- Thus, horses were merely a symbolic gathered means that it is biased on the
representation of Han’s real unconscious part of the researchers as they tend to
fear of castration experienced during the interpret the data in a way that supports
Oedipus Complex THEREFORE supporting their theory.
Freud’s theory - Furthermore, the fact that two different
2. Had a huge influence in psychology & Western researchers can reach completely
contemporary thought different interpretations of the same case
suggests that the methods lack objectivity.
- Alongside behaviourism, the
2. However, Freud’s theory was based on intensive
psychodynamic approach has remained a study of single individuals who were often in
dominant force in Psychology for the first therapy.
half of the 20th century and has been used - E.g. Little Hans.
to explain a wide range of phenomena - Although Freud’s observations were
including personality development, incredibly detailed and carefully recorded,
abnormal behaviour, more development critics have suggested that it is not
and gender. possible to make universal claims about
- The approach is also significant in human nature based on studies of such a
drawing attention to the connection small number of individuals who were
between experiences in childhood, such as deemed psychologically abnormal and
parental relationships, and later therefore results are not able to be
development. generalised to the wider population.
