Introduction

The term psychodynamic refers to a wide group of theories that emphasize the overriding influence of instinctive drives and forces, and the importance of developmental experiences in shaping personality. Early in their development, these theories focused solely on the influence of unconscious drives and forces, but they received much criticism and subsequent revision. Most recent psychodynamic theory places greater emphasis on conscious experience and its interaction with the unconscious, in addition to the role that social factors play in development.

Psychodynamic theories are in basic agreement that the study of human behaviour should include factors such as internal processes, personality, motivation and drives, and the importance of childhood experiences. Classic theories about the role of the unconscious sexual and aggressive drives have been re-evaluated to focus on conscious experience, resulting in, for example, the birth of ego psychology.

In this unit, students will study the historical development of this perspective and become aware of the revisions of classical psychodynamic theory.

Objectives of the Unit:

• Describe and evaluate relevant theories and empirical studies related to psychodynamic psychology
• Explain how cultural, ethical, gender, and methodological considerations affect the interpretation of behaviour in psychodynamic psychology.
• Describe and evaluate specific methodologies used in psychodynamic psychology.
• Describe and evaluate application of research findings and theories in psychodynamic psychology.
• Compare and evaluate theories of the influence of childhood experience on human behaviour.
• Assess the role of both the unconscious and the conscious mind on human behaviour.
• Assess to what extent empirical evidence supports psychodynamic theory.
• Assess to what extent psychodynamic theory is cross-culturally relevant.

• Victorian Society + British imperialism
• Colonization and the "noble savage"
• World War I and Shell Shock
• Attitudes toward gender over the past century

• Psychotherapy

• Attachment theory
• Defense mechanisms
• Techniques: dream analysis, projective tests, etc.
• Personality triad
• Stage theories of development
• Transactional analysis

• Case studies - extrinsic vs. intrinsic
• Content analysis (eg. dream analysis, amplification)
• Ethical considerations
• Outcome vs. Process based Assessment
• Cultural and gender considerations

• Psychic determinism: all behaviour has a cause/reason which is rooted in the unconscious.
• Behaviour is motivated by instinctual drives.
• Different parts of the unconscious mind are in contant struggle.
• Personality is shaped as the drives are modified by different conflicts at different stages of one's life.

• Freud's ideas had a significant impact on psychology.
• Freud developed the case study method.
• Freud's theory has had some experimental support
• Psychoanalysis has proven very effective for many patients.
• A large majority of the theory is unfalsifiable and so is unscientific.
• Theory is based on historical reconstruction.
• There are problems of construct validity with several key concepts.
• Sample was primarily abnormal - and limited to a certain culture and class.
• Until recently, the perspective was primarily androcentric.
• There is a lack of research to support the validity of cross-cultural application of theory.

Websites for research and personal development

• Adlerian Theory Homepage
• Alderian overview of birth-order characteristics
• The Anna Freud Center
• Classic studies in child development
• The Freud Museum
• The Interpretation of Dreams
• Psychodynamic Assessment of Personality
• Sigmund Freud and the Freud Archives

Online videos

• Mary Ainsworth's Attachment theory

Supplementary Readings

• The Activation-Synthesis Model of Dreams - McArley and Hobson
• Adler on parenting styles
• An Assault on Freud
• Attachment Theory - an overview
• Calling all Id's - the War among the Freudians
• Do monkeys have moral development as well? from The Economist
• Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
• The Example of Repression
• The Freudian Slip Revisited
• Freud's Dream theory and modern brain research (APA)
• Freud in our midst
• Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development
• Historical and Cultural Precursors to Freud
• Jung's Archetypes
• The Outcome of Psychoanalysis: The Hope of the Future
• Psychodynamic Therapy: What is it?
• Review and criticism of attachment theories - NEW
• The Rorshach and Cultural Issues
• Transference: How past relationships emerge in the present
• What did Freud get Right?

Study Guides/Key Theorists

• Basics of Psychoanalysis
• Defense Mechanisms
• Empirical Support for the Psychodynamic Perspective
• Erikson's Psychosocial Development
• An Evaluation of Freud
• Freud's Case Studies
• A Freud Glossary
• Freud's Psychosexual Development
• Gender development
• Mr. Crane's Review Sheet
• Neo-Freudian Guidesheets
• Psychoanalysis
• Review of Freud
• Scientific Precursors to Freud
• Social Development