SOWK 501-Theoretical Framework Paper: Key Points’ Synopsis

SOWK 501-Theoretical Framework Paper: Key Points’ Synopsis

Introduction

Sigmund Freud, born on May 6, 1856, in the Moravia Kingdom of Austria, now known as Freiberg, was a neurologist hailed for revolutionizing the modern view of the human psyche by forming the psychodynamic theory. This theory, developed towards the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century, was formulated due to Freud’s disappointment in the neurological theories, which he deemed unsuitable for explaining the psychological disorders he encountered in practice (O’Reilly, 2021). Sigmund Freud, initially working in Vienna, formulated psychoanalysis that posited the profound impact of much of our conduct from proven unconscious motivations. Therefore, this paper aims to enhance understanding of the psychodynamic theoretical framework as it relates to practice.

Theoretical Framework

What is the Psychodynamic Theory?

The psychodynamic theory is a model that tries to explain actions by analyzing all the aspects of the mind, especially the unconscious, consciousness, and pre-conscious (Traylor et al., 2022). For Freud, the human mind has hidden layers, which contain suppressed thoughts, feelings, and memories that still shape our behavior even though we are not aware of the impact they produce. The theory put into place several central ideas, such as the id, ego, and superego, which are the psychic agencies that work together to determine a person’s behavior. Freud’s theory also attaches a lot of importance to developing personalities and behavior in childhood. According to this theory, psychological problems in adulthood are a result of fixation at the oral, anal, phallic, latency, or genital stages, depending on unresolved conflicts (Spielman et al., 2021). Therefore, this theory reveals that a person’s early experiences have a substantial impact on their mental health, and these elements have to be recognized in any treatment.

Why Did Freud Develop This Theory?

Freud came up with the psychodynamic theory after observing that neurological reasons offered at his time were insufficient for explaining some mental illnesses (Luyten & Fonagy, 2022). As a neurologist, his early approach entailed helping patients with various neurological conditions, most of whom had features that suggested neurological disorders when no structural pathology could be identified. These patients tended to present psychological signs and symptoms, and Freud began to wonder whether there might be psychological rather than somatic origins to these disturbances. Many patients, including a lady named Anna O., who suffered from hysteria after the death of her father, were a turning point in the perception of the human mind (Luyten & Fonagy, 2022). According to Freud, symptoms that were apparent in Anna, for example, paralysis and speech trouble, had no neurology cause. However, he speculated that these symptoms arose from suppressed emotional abuse since they were stored in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of the brain. This realization was instrumental in formulating the psychodynamic theory because it posited that the mind could have diseases just as the body could, and they called for psychological treatments, not biological ones.

How Did Freud Develop the Theory?

The formation of the psychodynamic theory was not a linear process but a progressive one as Freud built his knowledge based on his work with patients, introspections, and interactions with other theorists and clinicians (O’Reilly, 2021). Freud’s early interest and training in neurology, which were complemented by his stay with the French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, was instrumental in framing his mind theories. The observation of Charcot with his patients with hysteria and other neurological disorders gave Freud enough reason to believe that these sorts of illnesses may be more of a psychological nature than organic (Spielman et al., 2021). These experiences made Freud doubt the then neurological theories of the human mind and focus on other reasons for the symptoms he noticed in his patients. Earlier methods of diagnosis included hypnosis, which Freud later came to reject in favor of free association, the method where the patients say whatever comes to their minds, and they can uncover thoughts that may be contributing to specific behaviors (O’Reilly, 2021). This technique remained an essential pillar of psychoanalysis because it offered a way of accessing the otherwise inaccessible area of the mind – the unconscious. Freud also gave much weight to dreams, convinced that dreams were a clear manifestation of one’s unconscious processes (O’Reilly, 2021). He often described dreams as a ‘royal road to the unconscious’ because they opened a window into their clients’ deeper selves that they could not reach otherwise. These methods helped Freud gain insights into the mind and its workings, forming the psychodynamic theory’s foundation.

Who Does It Work For?

Psychodynamic theory has been practiced extensively in several fields. However, its practice has been more vibrant in clinical psychology and psychotherapy, where there are psychological disorders like anxiety and depression, personality disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others (Luyten & Fonagy, 2022). This theory is especially beneficial to such people if they are willing to trace more profound causes of their enduring psychological problems, usually lying outside their awareness. Psychoanalytic therapy, rooted in Freud’s theory, involves identifying the inner processes that compel an individual to act or think in a particular way, including using the unconscious mind and guiding the patient to make decisions voluntarily (O’Reilly, 2021). This therapeutic approach is beneficial for people who have some chronic psychological disorders, for instance, unresolved childhood trauma and chronic problems in relationships. For instance, people experiencing personality disorders are troubled by profound intrapsychic conflicts and enact dysfunctional behaviors; thus, they can benefit from psychoanalytic therapy because this will enable them to avoid conflicts of which they are not aware (Luyten & Fonagy, 2022). Furthermore, psychodynamic therapy is effective in treating patients with depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders because it permits the patient to study the inherent emotional conflicts that might be causing the signs (O’Reilly, 2021). In this way, patients can address the unresolved problems at a latent level to process the emotional suffering and adopt healthier strategies for managing stress and adverse circumstances in their lives.

Recommendations

What Would I Change About the Theory?

Freud’s psychodynamic theory has contributed significantly to our understanding of the human mind; however, it has been criticized for over-emphasizing unconscious motivation and early childhood experiences, as posited by Luytens and Fonagy (2022). To overcome such shortcomings and be more applicable to modern psychology, the theory should be developed with the help of the recent data obtained through neuroscience and cognitive psychology, which describe the mental processes in more detail. If these modern perspectives are integrated into this theory, psychodynamic theory would offer a better perspective of the role that conscious and unconscious processing plays in human behavior and mental health. Moreover, it would be possible to shift away from internal processes at the intrapsychic level to external processes in the social, cultural, and interpersonal environment and expand the bandwidth of pathology that can be explained within the framework of the theory (Spielman et al., 2021). It would allow practitioners to explore the rich interactions of psychological processes and societal factors with greater efficacy in healing the clients. Moreover, widening the scope of psychodynamic theory, based on which, at present, cultural diversity and differences are not sufficiently taken into account, could open new opportunities to use this approach with population groups and address current issues in mental health. Culturally, this evolution of the psychodynamic theory would not only celebrate the theory’s heritage but would guarantee that the approach serves its intended purpose in meeting the psychological needs of people in the ever-evolving societies of the modern world.

Why These Changes Are Necessary

Such changes are necessary to retain the foundational aspects of psychodynamic theory as relevant and functional within current psychotherapy modalities. If the theory is to be augmented by studies such as those in neuroscience, it would have strong potential for providing simple and highly accurate accounts of the biological substructure of mental phenomena, thereby significantly increasing the theory’s explanatory value (Luyten & Fonagy, 2022). Additionally, the theory recognizes the input of the outside world into the subject, thus aligning the theory with present-day human development, which assumes human psychology to be inextricable from the environment (Spielman et al., 2021). Through this method that focuses on the whole human persona, the theory would be expanded and strengthened, as well as its impact on tackling many psychological disorders. When adopting a broader approach, psychodynamic theory enables understanding behaviour and cognition as multiplex processes. Thus, incorporating biological, psychological, and social aspects would mean that practitioners could assess each patient while considering their demography or culture, informing the choice of treatment strategies and increasing the chances of a favorable outcome. Finally, these changes would help strengthen the theory’s positions in contemporary studies and practices in psychology.

References

Luyten, P., & Fonagy, P. (2022). Integrating and differentiating personality and psychopathology: A psychodynamic perspective. Journal of personality, 90(1), 75-88. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12656

O’Reilly, J. (2021). Psychodynamic Theory: The development of a model of the mind. In Seminars in the Psychotherapies; Gibbons, R., O’Reilly, J., Eds (pp. 3-20).

Spielman, R. M., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M. (2021). Freud and the Psychodynamic Perspective. Introduction to Psychology (A critical approach).

Traylor, J., Overstreet, L., & Lang, D. (2022). Psychodynamic Theory: Freud. Individual and Family Development, Health, and Well-being.

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SOWK 501-Theoretical Framework Paper: Key Points’ Synopsis

Introduction

Start with the name introduction which should be centred, not underlined, not bold

Who, what, when, where, why and how- should all be covered.

Each paragraph should have 5-7 sentences

Explain about the theoretical framework, who is the theorist, what is this theory, when, where, why and how the theory came to be. Citations should be included based on research

The purpose of this paper is to enhance/ understand a theoretical framework as it relates to practice. (Thesis statement)

Title of the Theory should come after the introduction (In our case Psychodynamic Theory) Paper should be 5-7 pages. Title of the Theory should be centred, not underlined, not bold.

What is it about, why did they come up with this theory, how did they come up with the theory, who does it work for or with? -3-4 paragraphs

Recommendations

What would you change about this theory and why? 2 paragraphs