Comparative Analysis Of Cognitive And Psychodynamic Approach

In this assignment we will be outlining and comparing two psychological perspectives, which are the cognitive and psychodynamic approach. This will be shown in terms of considering the different theories the perspectives used for the mind and behaviour of an individual. The cognitive approach is based on how individuals process information stimuli and input this. It is also a neutral process based on how we respond to the things we have processed (also called “output”).

This is a functionality us humans are born with. The focus of the cognitive theory is attention, perception language and memory. Piaget believed that the mind was like a computer. The information processing theory has an impact on the way we think. An example for this can be faulty thinking, which is otherwise known as cognitive distortion. Cognitive distortion is the way our brains convince us of things that may not be true. It was proposed by Beck and Ellis, who came up with the idea of REBT to correct cognitive distortions.

• Rational
• Emotive
• Behavioural
• Therapy

On the other hand, the psychodynamic perspective began when Sigmund Freud explained behaviour as the unconscious thoughts as well as Id, ego and super ego. Freud theory- id ego and the super ego, oedipal complex.

Freud’s psychosexual stages are:

• Oral (birth - 1 year)
• Anal (1 year - 3 years)
• Phallic (3 years - 6 years)
• Latency (6 years - puberty)
• Genital (puberty – adulthood

Freud thought that the mind was made up of three parts; the conscious. Unconscious and preconscious also that sex was the central motivating force. Even though overtime psychoanalyst preferred to show the importance of the social influences which highlighted the childhood experience in an important way. The three elements which are id, ego and super ego influence a human’s brains in 4 ways. Firstly, the unconscious process, this is what humans have no direct awareness of. Secondly, psychodynamic conflict where the 2 parts of the mind are struggling with each other. Thirdly, emotional drives Freud suggested that this is stimulated by sexual and aggressive drives. Fourthly, development this brings out the personality within an individual via relationships throughout childhood.

The aim of the psychodynamic therapy is to bring the unconscious mind back into consciousness. Whereas the cognitive perspective was initiated by Piaget this was due to disappointment of the behaviourist perspective. The psychodynamic approach was aimed on what takes place in a human’s head which means the ‘neutral process’ as this is what humans are born with and it shapes the behaviour pattern and experiences. There was a case study method that Freud had used, when treating the clients as well as using clinical interview methods to examine the individuals past to question their behaviour. As this also links to the cognitive perspective, whereby using case studies as evidence to study the brain for those damaged patients as this was important in researching memory. The first approach to explain mental illness was the psychodynamic approach. An example would be the Psychoanalysis and dream therapy which is aimed on making the unconscious thoughts conscious. Freud belief was that the dreams we had ware based on our thoughts that ware hidden. On the other hand, the cognitive approach used scientific methods that explains many aspects of the human behaviour.

As it uses experimental research, studies of the brain and damaged patients, computer stimulations and advanced ways to study the brain. Both perpectives show that children are different from adults. Freud theory was based on emotional and social development; however, Piaget’s was focused on intellectual development. Both perpectives are related in terms of memory as Freud explains that when a person forgets it is down to repression, whereas cognitive an example shown by a psychologist named Atkinson and Shiffrin the multi stored model they suggested that memories are made up of a sequences of stores.

Abnormality is also classed as another similarity because both approaches have identified trauma and depression that are found in humans. Both approaches have presented therapies that can be used to treat mental disorders as well as depression. On the other hand, both approaches have described several topics such as, personality development, moral gender development as well as aggression and development in the psychodynamic perspective. A weakness can be acknowledged in both perpectives, based on the methods that ware used when researching. Freud approach was unscientific as it makes it difficult to test his theories. As he did not thoroughly carry out experiments as his ideas ware more dependent on observation methods. Because he used a small number of participants in his experiment, evidence was missing. The cognitive approach missed out the complexity of human functioning as biological influences ware also ignored. as they were being to unsympathetic towards the participants by ignoring emotional aspects of an individual’s life and their conscious experiences and the use of free will. Mental disorder and genetic factors ware nit takin under consideration.