Psychodynamic and Behaviourist Perspectives

?

Psychodynamic and Behaviourist Perspectives

Similarities

  • Deterministic= P- based subconscious desires so beyond free will  B- based on environmental influences so beyond free will
  • Past experiences= P- link early childhood and relationship with parents B- learn from environment through past experiences

Differences

  • Data= P- subjective, open interpretation eg dreams B- objective, controlled exp only measure observable behaviour
  • Individual vs Situational= P- ind, unconscious mind internal B- sit, environment/relationships external
  • Scientific= P- unscientific, subjective B- scientific, exp isolate variables leading to cause and effect

Overall comparison

Psychodynamic psychologists believe behaviour and feelings are rooted in early childhood experience and relations and can be greatly affected by traumatic events. Behaviour is driven by the unconscious mind (Id, Ego, Superego) so treatment comes in the form of making the unconscious conscious, for example, through psychodynamic therapy. Conversely, Behaviourists believe we are born as tabula rasa and as such all behaviours are shaped and influenced by the environment, especially through learning. This can occur through classical conditioning, operant conditioning or social learning theory. Thus, since these processes can be observed and usually involve collecting quantitative data, the area is more scientific than the psychodynamic. Additionally, behaviourists also focus more on the effect of the situation on behaviour (ie learning) rather than individual factors such as their subconscious drives. However, in this respect both areas are deterministic as they attribute behavioural causes as beyond the control of the individual, particularly focusing on past experiences (ie early childhood and learning)

Comments

No comments have yet been made