What Is Sigmund Freud's Psychodynamic Theory

Psychodynamic theory was developed by Sigmund Freud. This theory, developed by studying and interpreting a sample of clients, focuses on looking at emotions. It looks at what the client is feeling and what motivates what they do. Using his research Freud theorized the unconscious mind, stating influences on our behaviour may come from parts of our mind that we are unaware of and that memories or thoughts too frightening for a client to deal with may be locked away inside the brain (Freud, 2005). He also theorized that the brain was made of three components. The ID, or pleasure principle, which is based on a person's instinct, such as food and sex drive. The superego, or conscience, responsible for morality and right or wrong. Finally, the
For example, chewing pens later in life as a response to not progressing properly from the oral fixation stage (Freud, 1962). Erik Erikson, whilst using the framework of the ego, disagreed with these sexual stages and instead developed the psychosocial stages of development. He theorized society and culture were much more important in the development of a person throughout their life, that problems arise when conflicts between a person and society are not resolved before the next stage begins (Erikison, 1963). A more modern-day practitioner of the theory is Melanie Klein. Klein explored the minds of children and furthered the understanding of Freud's unconscious mind by analysing them play. By doing this she is often considered one of the founders of Objects relation theory. This theory delves into the effect of the relationship to the primary caregiver in the early stages of infancy and how this may influence future relationships unconsciously. One of her key contributions is the development of the "Paranoid-Schizoid