Psychodynamics

The theory of thermodynamics to describe the processes of the mind.

Flows of psychological energy (libido or psi) in an organically complex brain.

Freud

Psychodynamic psychology

Psychodynamic therapies: theory of inner conflict, wherein repressed behaviours and emotions surface into the patient’s consciousness; generally, one’s conflict is unconscious.

  • Emphasizing systematic study of the psychological forces underlying human behavior, feelings, emotions and how they relate to early experience.
  • Specifically the dynamic relations between conscious motivation and unconscious motivation. 

The term psychodynamics can refer to psychoanalytical therapy. 

There are four major schools of thought regarding psychological treatment:

  1. Psychodynamic
  2. Cognitive-Behavioral
  3. Biological
  4. Humanistic treatment

 Psychodynamic psychotherapy (1-2/wk)

vs.

Classical psychoanalysis (3-5/wk)