Psychodynamic Approach and Biological Psychology - Essay Example

Psychodynamic Approach and Biological Psychology Introduction Comparing psychodynamic approach to biological approach in psychology is a challenging task because there exists a risk of poor evaluation of these different methods and their further misinterpretation due to their almost opposite approach to human psyche. Most psychotherapists would claim that it is impossible to compare two directions different in there nature and in the basic definitions. Moreover, each technique would be optimal for each separate case and neither biological psychology nor psychodynamic approach is used as the only approach in our times. But still these two directions are aimed to perform their basic function- to help people to solve their psychological problems that is why there is a necessity in their comparison and determination of strong and weak points. In most cases an experienced psychiatrist would choose only some methods appropriate for the situation but still he will have to know the essence of both directions. Biological approach suggests that our psychology is completely subordinated to physiology and based on genetics. Our emotions, feelings, behavior patterns can be explained biologically and thus our psychological problems can be solved only from biological perspective. Psychodynamic approach was revolutionary method that aimed to explain human behaviour as driven by the instincts which are basically unconscious. The method of treatment patients offered by Sigmund Freud was called psychoanalysis and was aimed to bring unconscious hidden motives to the surface of consciousness. The purpose of this essay is to determine which one of these two methods is more relevant, effective, and justified for psychology today. Evaluation Criteria Comparing these two methods it is important to define the evaluation criteria according to which psychodynamic approach and biological approach will be analyzed. The understanding of human psyche is a primary and the most important criterion. Research methods is the second evaluation criteria that can shed some light on the subject. Research areas and direct application can be considered a third criterion for evaluation. First of all it is reasonable to outline the information about both methods separately. As biologic psychology appeared earlier and to some extent gave impact to the development of psychodynamic approach in psychology it looks logical to analyze it first. This science is also called behavioral neuroscience or physiological biology, and these names can be more eloquent for the understanding of this direction in psychology. Biological psychologists aim to determine the connection between mind and body with the help of purely scientific methods. In other words for biological psychologists it is crucial to know how body functions, human behavior, emotions can be directed to the brain work. Biological psychology is a very broad direction which incorporates data received from biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, psychopharmacology to determine biological nature of the processes of human psyche. Biological psychology incorporates scientific data about hormones and neurotransmitters, genetic information and heritability apart from data received by its own methods which concerns electric signals in brain and chemical reactions. Due to the fact that behavioral neuroscience is based on scientific research only, its fields of study are limited to those subjects that can be controlled (Kalat, 2011). Biological psychology studies human psyche in broad perspective-it aims to receive quantitative data that could be generalized and applicable for all humanity. Thus, it is possible to suggest that acquires information about the work of the brain applicable across populations. Thus the results achieved in the course of research are applicable to many. For instance scientific data about certain psychological problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, help to understand the nature of the diseases more adequately and gave new impact to pharmacology. Today mental illnesses are regarded from biological perspective and pharmaceutical treatment that includes restoration of chemical balance is used along with psychotherapeutic methods. (Dewsury, 1991). Biological psychology uses different methods of research but the only condition of all the methods is biological variable during experiments. Among the methods most often used there are the following: disabling or decreasing of neural function, enhancing neural function, measuring neural activity and genetic techniques. As most of these experiments require intrusion into neural system mice, rats and non-human primates are involved. Disabling of neural function is most often performed with the help of lesions, transcreanial magnetic stimulation or pharmacological manipulations during which the work of some part of the brain is intentionally altered or damaged to trace which behavior changes it will produce (Breedlove et al., 2007). Improving neural functions is performed with the help magnetic or electromagnetic influence. Later researches try to figure out what human functions were improved with the help of this enhancement. The main areas of interest of biological psychology are the following: motivation, control, memory, perception, movement, and learning mechanisms however, it aims to expand its fields of study. Biological psychologists concentrate more and more on higher cognitive functions, such as language, faith, imagination and others but since the study has to be limited by animals only more advanced technology is needed (Kalat, 2011). Now it is time to pass to psychodynamic psychology which was shaped in the beginning of the XXth century. Sigmund Freud, who specialized in neurology, was the first who offered psychodynamic theory to the world. It was met with serious criticism first but then gained more and more popularity due to its wide application and positive results in treatment of psychotic diseases. The theory offered by psychodynamic psychology suggests that unconscious part of psyche is a critical driving force of human life. Every single expression, thought, behavior pattern has some intention and motive which is not clearly understood by a person himself and must be attributed to unconscious. Psychodynamic psychologists suggest that most our motives are laid down during first years of living, early childhood. In other words the way our parents treat us in childhood will later define our personality in adulthood. His part of human psyche achieved its separate name and attention from psychologists which was done for the first time in the history of the civilization (Snowden, 2006). Psyche according to Freud`s theory can be divided into three parts: id, ego, and superego. Such classification was revolutionary at the time of Freud because of the domineering power of Id in life of a human being. Id can be explained as the sum of all subconscious drives that are preserved from animal instincts. It is the only part of human psyche that exists from the birth of a person. Thus, as it is inborn the instincts of Id are very powerful and give people basic psychic energy for development. They are responsible for sexual attraction, eating, drinking, aggressive drives and they are often poorly controlled or uncontrolled by a person at all. Id contains libido, which Freud considered to be the main human desire responsible for all human behavior. The superego is supposed to control insatiable and animalistic drives of Id because it constituted of moral and cultural norms and regulations. Acting with the help of guilt and shame the Superego limits and controls the behaviour of a human preventing him from destructive impulses and desires. The middle part of the human personality is ego itself which is obliged to find balance between superego and id. In the process of transformation of the impulses of Id Ego can use a number of defense mechanisms which make instinctive drives more acceptable and adequate to reality. For instance, if a person cannot direct his feelings to the object of his desire (aggressive or sexual) he uses a defensive mechanism of projection to direct it to someone else and release them. Sublimation is another popular defense mechanism which presupposes directing of sexual energy into artistic expression (Summers & Barber, 2009). The mechanisms which a person chooses to deal with internal conflicts between ego and superego are laid down in early childhood. Freud emphasized the importance of psychosexual development of a child and directed his attention to the earliest period of person`s development. Basic psychosexual phases were distinguished by Freud who emphasized that child`s personality is created as a result of libido transformation. Impulses received from body instincts as well as the impulses received from parents form child`s desires and eventually help him to elaborate defense mechanisms. This knowledge was crucial for psychoanalysis because fixation could occur on any stage of development and cause serious psychological problems in adulthood (Jarvis, 2004). Oral stage is the earliest stage of human development during which learning how to chew, suck and swallow becomes central for a baby. As he is still breast fed most often then he/she has to learn how to operate with his mouth and consume solid food. During this stage the first understanding of Ego is created as a baby acknowledges how to differentiate himself from others. Fixation on this stage may cause problems with self-sufficiency and dependency and addictive habits such as smoking. Anal stage is the second stage of human development during which a baby learns to control his impulses with defecation. Children are trained to go potty during this stage and the success resolving of this task will allow a person to gain control over his generosity and cleanness. Phallic stage is another crucial stage for human development because at this period children feel their first sexual attraction to the parent of the opposite sex. This complex received a special name in Freud`s interpretation and was called Oedipus complex. This stage is also characterized by the formation of the superego as a child has to feel first hallmarks of anxiety, guilt and shame. An adult person with fixation on this stage will suffer from vanity and self-centeredness or can become a victim of excessive anxiety. Latent psychosexual phase is characterized by decrease interest to the sexual drives during which a person struggles to achieve more knowledge about the world and people around him. The last phase was defined by Freud as genital phase during which the accent of human sexuality became normal and was concentrated on reproductive organs- vagina and penis. Human personality was almost completely shaped by this time (Jarvis, 2004). Psychodynamic theory gave the most serious impact to the development of psychology. However, it was also rejected and criticized by many because of its accent on sexual development of a human. Psychoanalysis suggested that a person must analyze his childhood experience for understanding of his adult problems. However, the weak point of psychodynamic theory is its denial of free will of a person. Determination by the unconsciousness as well as the accent on first years of life made human behaviour predetermined and lacking flexibility in realms of psychodynamic theory. Nevertheless, psychoanalysis is still widely used though it was transformed by neo-freudian psychologists such as Fromm, Erikson, and Anna Frank (Summers & Barber, 2009). Psychodynamic approach as well as biological psychology agrees that human psyche is governed by universal laws equally applicable to everyone. It is right to say that both these directions aim to find some basic concepts of human behavior regulation and human motivation. Despite this fact that can unite them in other aspects these two directions of psychology regard human personality from completely different perspectives. Biological psychology relies on scientific data only and aims to study the mechanisms of brain and their application to human behaviour with the help of scientific experiments. Biological psychology suggests that each impairment of human psyche is correspondent to the malfunctioning of brain. Conducting experiments on human and animals biological psychology determined which parts of brain are responsible for which functions and how these processes are regulated internally. Neuropharmacology which is one of the leading directions of biological psychology offers treatment of psychological impairments such as depression, Alzheimer`s disease, schizophrenia with the help of medication that can restore chemical balance. Psychodynamic theory regards human psyche as divided into three basic parts: id, ego and superego. Id is responsible for subconsciousness, supergo is responsible for social norms imposed by culture and ego is responsible for balancing these two parts of human personality. Psychodynamic theory accepts the existence of subconscious driven by sexual instincts in every human being and claims that the conflicts between different parts of psyche cause psychological problems for a person. Analysis of patient`s early years and detecting fixations is one of the basic mechanisms of psychoanalysis. Psychodynamic approach suggests that when unconscious motives become conscious the conflict is resolved and a patient can be cured. In modern psychology these two directions are used simultaneously and the success of treatment depends on adequate combination of biological psychology with psychodynamic theory as well as any other theory. Bibliography Breedlove, M., Rosenzweig, M., &Watson, N. (2007). Biological Psychology: An Introduction to Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience 6e. Sinauer Associates Dewsbury, D. (1991). Psychobiology, American Psychologist , 46; 198–205. Jarvis, M.(2004). Psychodynamic Psychology: Classical Theory and Contemporary Research.Boston: Cengage Learning. Kalat, J. (2011). Biological Psychology. Chicago: Cengage Learnig Snowden, Ruth (2006). Teach Yourself Freud. McGraw-Hill Summers, R. & Barber, J. (2009). Psychodynamic Therapy: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice. Chicago: Guilford Press Read More