Differences of the psychodynamic and behavioural approaches

Differences of the psychodynamic and behavioral set aboutesWhile psychodynamic and behavioral feeleres atomic number 18 the two major(ip) approaches to individualality, they view personality from different perspective. Psychodynamic approach argues personality is caused by forces in the unconscious but not learnt. Individuals realise little control everywhere their behaviour as it is prede terminalined, and early childhood plays a crucial check in shaping mavens personality. Behavioural approach, on the other hand, recognizes personality as learnt and focuses solitary(prenominal) on present behaviour matters. Given the differences, it has been argued whether, in name of scientific chastity, psychodynamic or behavioural approach is more comprehensive. The strengths of psychodynamic approach be consideration of childhood experiences and recognition of the unconscious part. On the contrary, behavioural approach focuses on behaviour that brush off be scientifically measu red and verified, and recognizes the brilliance of external surround on personality. From the above arguments, it is finally concluded, in term of methodology and testability, behavioural approach is more comprehensive.IntroductionThe scientific sexual morality of psychodynamic and behavioural approaches to personality is quite different in harm of funding whether personality is largely inborn or learnt. The term scientific merit here is defined as the methodology employed and testability of the approaches. On one hand, it has been argued psychodynamic approach relies too heavily on unconscious mind whose universe is hard to prove on the other hand, behavioural approach has withal been criticized for being overly environ rationally determinist while overlooking mental processes. The following essay is to critically compare and contrast these two approaches from sundry(a) aspects, and deduce which one is more include.The psychodynamic approach argues experiences in childhood have significant influence on the development of self-aggrandizing personality without their consciousness. Freud (1969), the initiate of psychodynamic approach to psychology, suggested the mind consists of the following three parts the preconscious, the conscious, and the unconscious. Among these three, individuals are only not aware of the unconscious part, in which there is incessantly conflict amongst the id and the superego. The id is unconscious basic drives present in the newborn, and the superego represents the conscience substantial by living in a community. These two parts of the psyche has to be managed by the ego, which mediates between the impulses of the id and social constraints. Freud argued that every child must(prenominal) on a lower floorgo the psycho-sexual stages and their experiences play a large part in adult development, particularly the development of personality. (Freud, 1969).According to behavioral approach, personality is viewed as a pattern of learned behaviors developed through either classical or operative conditioning, and then further molded by reinforcement much(prenominal) as punishment or rewards. Classical conditioning, first proposed by Pavlov (1936), is erudition through association, which suggested individual learns to connect a neutral stimulus with a reflex response such as anger or delight. Also, operant conditioning, primarily proposed by B. F. Skinner (1974), is learning through the outcomes of behaviour. If ones behaviour is rewarded, then it will be maintained or increased if it is penalized, it will be weakened and even extinguished.There are several substantial differences between psychodynamic and behavioural approaches. Comparatively, psychodynamic approach recognizes that experiences in childhood have influence passim our lives without our consciousness. It provides important framework for judging ones personality and behaviour. For example, the reason for a person committing murder may be the fact that his violent father has always physically-punished him since childhood. Nevertheless, behavioural approach argued most human behaviour is mechanical, and ones personality is apparently the product of stimuli and responses. Therefore, the psychodynamic approach acknowledges everyone can suffer mental illnesses and conflicts without their faults.Compared with the psychodynamic approach, another weakness of the behavioural approach is that it ignores the part of unconscious. According to Social Learning Theory, Bandura (1989) has suggested cognitive factors cannot be overlooked if learning is needed to be understood. Bandura has also mention that while reward and punishment substantially shape ones personality, cognition has as much impact as they do. Also, the principles of behavioural approach have in the main been tested on animals. It implies some findings may not be relevant to human being, who is much more complex.On the other hand, one of the strengths of behaviour al approach over psychodynamic approach, in term of testability, is that it only focuses on behaviour that can be tested and observed, which makes it very recyclable in experiments under laboratory setting where behaviour can be observed and verified. Therefore, the results derived from behavioural approach have been, and continue to be, objectively and reliably measured.In terms of methodology, the behavioural approach focuses on the present instead of examining ones past or their medical history. In some wooings, this can be a word form of strength, especially for those suffering from their abnormal behaviour. For them, instead of knowing the causes, getting give up of the unpleasant behaviour is much more important. For example, a person with an erroneous impulse to brush his teeth unnecessarily many times a day is more concerned about ridding himself of this unnatural behaviour.Compared with behavioural approach, the major criticism of psychodynamic approach is that it cann ot be scientifically verified or observed. In fact, no one is even able to design an experience which can effectively refute psychodynamic theory. There is no way to prove whether the unconscious really exists, and whether a restrained memory is real or not. Therefore, psychodynamic approach does not have solid scientific evidence underpinning the arguments about personality. other weakness would be the fact that most of the evidence for psychodynamic theories was taken from Freuds case studies, such as Little Hans. (Freud, 1969). The main problem is that the case studies are based on studying one person in detail, and they lam to be highly personal. This makes generalisations to the wider population difficult and not representative enough. resultantIn term of methodology and testability, behavioural approach is more encompassing for the following reason. Firstly, unlike psychodynamic approach which can hardly be scientifically observed or tested, behavioural approach has proved t o be useful in scientific experiments under laboratory setting where results can be reliably verified. Secondly, behavioural approach, in terms of methodology, recognizes the influence of the external environment on ones personality. Finally, most of the evidence for psychodynamic theories was taken from Freuds case studies, which is very subjective and it is hard to generalize results to a larger population.