Pak Mdeena

Lesson 5

THE PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH/ MODEL

The approach that concentrated on the unconscious forces that drive our behavior; belief that the inner
forces over which individuals have little control motivate behavior.
• Founded by Sigmund Freud, the most influential figure in the history of psychology.
• The basis of motivation and behavior lies in inner forces; forces that are predetermined, and forces
over which humans have little control, which the person is not aware of i.e., unconscious
determinants of behavior
• It maintained that instincts are the driving force behind individual’s personality; there are life instincts
as well as death instincts that play a role in human life.
Significance of Psychodynamic Approach
• The most influential theory of the 20th century, that affected psychology and related disciplines
in a revolutionary manner
• Gave an entirely new perspective to the understanding of behavior and mental processes as
well as mental illness
• The first theory to raise the awareness that not all behavior is rational
• Gave an impressive, broad based, therapeutic approach
• Provided a basis to understand everyday life phenomena e.g. interpersonal relationships,
aggression, prejudice
• Many other, later, approaches built their paradigms on this approach - some by refining it,
some by deviating from it
• One of the main ideas is that there is an inner tension for the fulfillment of instincts, the
tension leads to action for fulfillment, the fulfillment leads to reduced tension.