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Psychodynamic and Humanistic Explanations of Depression

© Banff and Buchan College 2004

Psychodynamic Explanations

Freud

• anger turned towards the self

• bereavement results in sense of worthlessness or guilt

• can be symbolic bereavement

BUT

• Weissman et al (1971) found that people with depression often express intense anger towards others

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Alternative Psychodynamic Theory

• depression as ‘love addiction’ (e.g. Rado, 1928)

• dependent on others for self-esteem

• require constant demonstrations of love

• but, care little for others

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Evaluation

Psychodynamic theories are difficult to test, but two claims have been supported by empirical evidence:

• Neitzel and Harris (1990) demonstrated that a high level of dependence is a characteristic of depressed people and that dependent people are more prone to depression.

 

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Evaluation (contd)

• Kendler (1991) demonstrated that depressed people are not more likely to have suffered a parental death in childhood, but they are more likely to have suffered separation through family conflict. It appears that poor parenting is more important than the death of a parent at placing a child at risk from depression.

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Humanistic Explanations

• guilt over perceived failure to ‘live competently’

• failure to make choices, to fulfill his or her potential and to take responsibility for his or her life

• fear of aloneness. Depressives are dependent, and depression is precipitated by loss.

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Humanistic Explanations (contd)

• loneliness is not something to be avoided or treated

• a human condition which should be used as a means of personal growth

• people become anxious about loneliness and react to their solitary state by engaging in wasteful superficial social activities which do not allay their fears

• this futile struggle adds to the depression.

© Banff and Buchan College 2004

© Banff and Buchan College 2004

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