I will be looking at the strengths and limitations of two different types of psychological approaches when used for research. The two approaches that I will be looking at are the Psychodynamic Approach as well as the Behaviourist approach.
Firstly I will be looking at the Psychodynamic Approach. A strength of using this approach is that although it and a lot of its practises are seen as highly controversial it has had great influence on the world of psychology. An example of this would be the psychodynamic research methods of Sigmund Freud and the many psychologists it has inspired over the years. Freud was the creator of psychoanalysis, a set of psychological and psychotherapeutic theories that were seen as so influential that they inspired …show more content…
One of these is that it ignores the important genetic factors that help to develop a person’s behaviour and personality, this can limit the studies used during this approach. For instance, the psychodynamic approach would ignore any genetics passed down from previous generations that may affect a person’s behaviour. This is backed up by the fact that the psychodynamic approach is extremely unscientific as it is mainly theory based rather than based off information acquired from psychological experiments or observations, this also makes it incredibly easy to manipulate as there is no way to prove the information obtained is incorrect. For example Sulloway (1991) states “Freud 's case histories are rampant with censorship, distortions, highly dubious 'reconstructions, ' and exaggerated claims. Moreover, Freud 's choice of cases to publish is highly unusual”, proving that even the most greatly distinguished psychologists can alter their findings to help back up their …show more content…
An advantage of using this is that as opposed to the Psychodynamic approach behaviourism is especially scientific as a research method. This is because any research can be collected through direct observation of psychological subjects, or through experiments which are carried out in great detail so that the information gathered can be verified and unlike the psychodynamic approach cannot be too easily manipulated to tie in with a particular theory. Looking at the experiments of psychologists such as B.F Skinner show how highly scientific this approach can be. Skinner is one of the most well-known behaviourist psychologists, he “referred to his own philosophy as 'radical behaviourism ' and suggested that the concept of free will was simply an illusion. All human action, he instead believed, was the direct result of conditioning.” Cherry, K (2005). He is recognised primarily for his work involving operant conditioning, this is a method of teaching a subject behaviours using both positive and negative reinforcement. An example of this is the use of a ‘Skinner Box’ otherwise known as an operant conditioning chamber, this was used in an experiment in which an animal (most commonly a rat or a pigeon) is placed in the chamber and made to engage in behaviours with the expectation of a reward being received. Skinner used a closed box so
Firstly I will be looking at the Psychodynamic Approach. A strength of using this approach is that although it and a lot of its practises are seen as highly controversial it has had great influence on the world of psychology. An example of this would be the psychodynamic research methods of Sigmund Freud and the many psychologists it has inspired over the years. Freud was the creator of psychoanalysis, a set of psychological and psychotherapeutic theories that were seen as so influential that they inspired …show more content…
One of these is that it ignores the important genetic factors that help to develop a person’s behaviour and personality, this can limit the studies used during this approach. For instance, the psychodynamic approach would ignore any genetics passed down from previous generations that may affect a person’s behaviour. This is backed up by the fact that the psychodynamic approach is extremely unscientific as it is mainly theory based rather than based off information acquired from psychological experiments or observations, this also makes it incredibly easy to manipulate as there is no way to prove the information obtained is incorrect. For example Sulloway (1991) states “Freud 's case histories are rampant with censorship, distortions, highly dubious 'reconstructions, ' and exaggerated claims. Moreover, Freud 's choice of cases to publish is highly unusual”, proving that even the most greatly distinguished psychologists can alter their findings to help back up their …show more content…
An advantage of using this is that as opposed to the Psychodynamic approach behaviourism is especially scientific as a research method. This is because any research can be collected through direct observation of psychological subjects, or through experiments which are carried out in great detail so that the information gathered can be verified and unlike the psychodynamic approach cannot be too easily manipulated to tie in with a particular theory. Looking at the experiments of psychologists such as B.F Skinner show how highly scientific this approach can be. Skinner is one of the most well-known behaviourist psychologists, he “referred to his own philosophy as 'radical behaviourism ' and suggested that the concept of free will was simply an illusion. All human action, he instead believed, was the direct result of conditioning.” Cherry, K (2005). He is recognised primarily for his work involving operant conditioning, this is a method of teaching a subject behaviours using both positive and negative reinforcement. An example of this is the use of a ‘Skinner Box’ otherwise known as an operant conditioning chamber, this was used in an experiment in which an animal (most commonly a rat or a pigeon) is placed in the chamber and made to engage in behaviours with the expectation of a reward being received. Skinner used a closed box so