A Comparison Of Psychodynamic And Humanistic Therapy

The goals of psychodynamic and humanistic therapists are very different. The psychodynamic view was developed by Sigmund Freud; he believed that behavior was deeply influenced by unconscious thoughts, impulses, and desires, especially concerning sex and aggression. His goal was to resolve internal conflicts that lead to emotional suffering. Freud has said that "patients could only expect to change their hysterical misery into common unhappiness." The humanistic therapist would take a very different look at this.

The goals of the humanistic therapist differ from Freud's psychodynamic view in that they seek to understand how people perceive themselves and experience the world. It is a view of understanding subjective human needs. Humanists believed that conscious thoughts and feelings shape behavior. They believe in accountability and self-actuality, and that everyone can reach self actuality by moving through Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. This differs to the Freudian ability of psychodynamics because he did not believe that all of his patients could be happy.

Humanists and psychodynamics not only differ in their goals, but their views on personality as well. The psychodynamic view is more negative and pessimistic, whereas the humanistic view is that mostly all people are good. Humanists tend to have optimistic and positive views. Psychodynamics believe that behavior is determined, while the humanist believes that behavior is free choice and free will. Psychodynamics motives are geared towards sex and aggression while, humanist's motives are tilted towards the pursuit of self actualization. Psychodynamics believe there are three types of personality; id, ego and superego. Id types are pleasure seekers, ego types are thinkers and planners, and superego is the voice of reason. Humanists were more simplistic, believing in self, in a sense that "people just are who they are."

Psychodynamics also have a very different view on development. The Freudian view was based on psychosexual stages oral (0-1) focuses on sucking and survival, anal (1-3) focused on potty training, phallic (3-6) Focused on Adult traits such as vanity and pride, and genital, which started with the beginning of puberty. The humanistic view is very different from Freud's view of development, in that they believe in development of self image where experiences shape self image in a positive or negative way.

The approach to therapy greatly differs within psychodynamic and humanistic therapy. The therapist' role in psychodynamic therapy is authoritative and they tend to determine what will be talked about during a session. In humanistic therapy, the therapist takes an objective role and listens to what the patient has to say. It is more non-directed and the patient can decide what will be discussed during the session. It is said in humanistic therapy, that the therapist provides opportunities for change, but it is up to the patients to actively solve their own problems.

The psychodynamic approach deals with unconscious thoughts and conflicts usually stemming from repressed memories or sexual energy. The humanist believes in conscious acts, and that humans make their own decisions, encouraging responsibility for their actions by focusing on bringing emotions into the present and dealing with them.

Much research has been done on these two very different approaches; however, there have been no new views that have combined humanism with psychodynamics to utilize the best of both worlds. The conscious cannot function without the unconscious in a scientific view; therefore, it could be logical to assume the same would apply in a psychological view as well. By combining the humanistic and psychodynamic view to focus on the conscious and unconscious as equally responsible parts for the cause of psychological disorders, we could further the research about the brain and its behavior.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to the different approaches to psychology. The main differences between the psychodynamic view and humanistic view are the goals, development, causes, and treatments; and in each area, both views have made significant contributions. By combining the two views into one harmonious holistic view, a healthier approach to treating the mind and psychological disorders would be formed. The new view would take all parts of the mind and body, conscious and unconscious, into consideration, leading to a stronger diagnosis and treatment in the end.