The psychodynamic approach proposed by Freud views abnormal behavior as arising from unresolved internal conflicts, usually from early childhood. Some strengths are that it provides explanations for psychological disturbances and encouraged treatment. However, it lacks scientific validity as Freud's ideas were based on his subjective analysis of a biased sample without empirical evidence. It also depends heavily on the therapist's interpretation and may overfocus on sexual issues rather than social factors.

1. PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH
According to Freud (1925) behaviour
is motivated by internal or
psychological forces, and abnormality
is caused by an imbalance in the
internal forces that motivate
behaviour. He believed that mental
illness arises from unresolved
conscious conflicts, and these usually
occur in early childhood (e.g. the
Oedipus complex).

3. STRENGTHS
 Many observations of psychodynamic therapists appear
to be borne out in everyday life, e.g., defence
mechanisms
 Many people with psychological disturbances do
recollect childhood traumas
 Freudian theory provides a comprehensive framework to
describe human personality
 Freud ‘rehumanised’ the distressed, making their
suffering more comprehensible to the rest of society
 By developing a method of treatment, Freud
encouraged a more optimistic view regarding
psychological distress. Mental illness could, in some
cases at least, be treated!

4. WEAKNESSES
 Has explanatory power, but lacks scientific validity
The psychodynamic model is able to provide
believable explanations for the causes of abnormality,
e.g. childhood traumas, but it lacks the empirical
research evidence needed to support the theory.
Freud based his ideas mainly on his own subjective
analysis of middle class Viennese women.

5. WEAKNESSES
 Has explanatory power, but lacks scientific validity
The psychodynamic model is able to provide
believable explanations for the causes of abnormality,
e.g. childhood traumas, but it lacks the empirical
research evidence needed to support the theory.
Freud based his ideas mainly on his own subjective
analysis of middle class Viennese women.

6. WEAKNESSES
 Psychoanalysis depends on the therapist's
subjective interpretation
Psychoanalysis depends heavily on the therapist’s
interpretation of what the client says. Does a dream
about swimming in the sea really mean that the client
has dreamt about sex? Freud said that if the client
accepted the interpretation then it was probably
correct. However, if the client vehemently rejected the
interpretation it may simply be the client’s conscious
mind rejecting an unacceptable but accurate
interpretation. Either way therapist wins!

7. WEAKNESSES
 Freud used a biased sample
Freud studied a group of largely middle-class
Viennese women aged between 20 and 44 years, all
of whom had serious emotional problems, and so his
sample cannot reliably generalise to the general
population. He also only studied one child (Little
Hans) when developing his theory of psychosexual
development, and even then he only corresponded
with the boy's father by letter.

8. WEAKNESSES
 Over focus on sexual issues
Psychodynamic theory as developed by Freud tended
to focus too much on sexual issues, and de-
emphasised the importance of interpersonal and
social factors in causing and maintaining mental
disorders. Is it more likely that failing to resolve the
Oedipus complex causes abnormality, or could a
dysfunctional parenting style leading to an insecure
attachment be the cause?

9. WEAKNESSES
 Determinist
The psychodynamic approach is very determinist as it
says that suffering childhood trauma will lead to
abnormal behaviour in adulthood, however it ignores
the influence of genes (biology), reward
(behaviourism), and thinking patterns (cognitive
approach).