This paper focuses on the exploration of psychodynamic perspective on the psychology of a human being and the way it approaches human mind and behavior. Psychodynamic perspective originates from psychoanalysis. This perspective is the most frequently associated with the field of psychology as it has been very popular over the course of the 20th century. This perspective relies on such concepts as the subconscious, inner psychological forces, unconscious mind.
The theorists of psychodynamic perspective in psychology maintain that the behavioral patterns, habits and choices every person makes day by day are influenced and facilitated by the individuals’ experiences from the past. In other words, the root causes of every psychological problem an individual may experience lie in their past and can be associated with particular events of this person’s life.
Understanding Human Mind and Behaviors
Since psychodynamic approach is focused on the identification of the causes of the behavioral patterns, it targets the patients’ background. In many cases, the psychological issues of adults are sought in the experiences of their childhood, relationships with parents and siblings and various crises or changes each particular individual has undergone during different periods of their early life. According to psychodynamic perspective, not only the behaviors, habits and attitudes of an individual are directly influenced by their past experiences, but also the personalities overall are built based on the effects of the past.
Psychodynamic perspective maintains that the outer actions of the individuals are motivated by the inner forces. This way, all of the main impacts on people’s behaviors come from within the individuals but not from the external environments.
Famous Researchers and Theorists
Since psychodynamic perspective derives from psychoanalysis, the most well-known theorist of this approach is Sigmund Freud. This researcher is responsible for such crucial notions of psychoanalysis as the impact of sexual development at each stage of a person’s life, libido, the theory of archetypes and the unconscious. Besides, the numerous followers of Freud who focused of the development of psychoanalysis as a theory and practice can also be recognized as the researchers of psychodynamic perspective. Among them there are Karl Jung, who introduced the concepts of personal and collective unconscious, Alfred Adler, who was dedicated to the exploration of the meaning of inferiority complex, and Erik Erikson, who first started to use the expression “identity crisis”.
Why It Is a Good Way to Study Psychology
Psychodynamic approach views an individual as a center of their own psychological development. In my opinion, looking for the causes of human behaviors within human minds assumes that the responsibility for all the psychological issues lies on the patients themselves. This way, the patients automatically are enabled to analyze and address their own problems and provide self-help based on the instructions and guidance of a professional psychologist. As a result, the main positive characteristics of psychodynamic perspective are its productiveness, its ability to empower the individuals to organize self-help and their cost-effectiveness (as self-help strategies can be practiced without the direct intervention of a counselor).
Personal Opinion
Psychodynamic perspective has been a dominant approach in psychology over the last century. Its contribution to the modern idea of human psychology and the mechanisms of human mind is massive. This perspective has penetrated a variety of other fields such as healthcare, education, psychiatry, and sociology. It also has deeply rooted in our everyday life and vocabulary via such notions as dream interpretation, ego, subconscious mind, Oedipus complex, identity crisis, archetypes and libido. I believe that psychodynamic perspective is extremely powerful and deep approach that provides valid explanations to numerous behaviors and mindsets.