Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) proposed the psychodynamic theory. The term 'psychodynamic' symbolises the active forces within our personality that influences our behaviour. Freud believed there was often a mental conflict hidden in our unconscious mind and that mental illness arises from unresolved, conscious conflicts. He coined the term psychoanalysis (1896) to explain his theories and treatments for curing mental problems of his patients. The psychodynamic approach emphasises the significance of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences.
Freud described the mind using an analogy known as the iceberg. Freud stated "The mind is like an iceberg; it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water". He said there was three parts of the …show more content…
Above all, the main criticism of this approach is that it is unscientific in its methods; the lack of empirical support questions its strength, for example it is not possible to scientifically analyse a dream? Furthermore, Freuds subjects were far too biased as they all where middle class Jewish women from Vienna who suffered similar issues. Popper, by far one of psychoanalysis most well-known critics. Insists that psychoanalysis cannot be considered a science because it is not falsifiable. He claims that psychoanalysis "so-called predictions are not predictions of overt behaviour but of hidden psychological states. This is why they are so untestable" (Popper, 1986, p.254). One of the largest impacts on the use of psychoanalysis is its ethics. As humans, our minds can sometimes repress trauma, into the unconscious, in order to allow normal function. As a result, without a clear patient history available, Psychoanalysis may open up the traumatic event into the conscious, causing the patient to re-live it without the methods or coping strategies to handle such a situation, which could then place them under emotional and psychological
Freud described the mind using an analogy known as the iceberg. Freud stated "The mind is like an iceberg; it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water". He said there was three parts of the …show more content…
Above all, the main criticism of this approach is that it is unscientific in its methods; the lack of empirical support questions its strength, for example it is not possible to scientifically analyse a dream? Furthermore, Freuds subjects were far too biased as they all where middle class Jewish women from Vienna who suffered similar issues. Popper, by far one of psychoanalysis most well-known critics. Insists that psychoanalysis cannot be considered a science because it is not falsifiable. He claims that psychoanalysis "so-called predictions are not predictions of overt behaviour but of hidden psychological states. This is why they are so untestable" (Popper, 1986, p.254). One of the largest impacts on the use of psychoanalysis is its ethics. As humans, our minds can sometimes repress trauma, into the unconscious, in order to allow normal function. As a result, without a clear patient history available, Psychoanalysis may open up the traumatic event into the conscious, causing the patient to re-live it without the methods or coping strategies to handle such a situation, which could then place them under emotional and psychological