Question

What are the current trends in psychodynamic theory and discuss them.

Answer 1

In its Broad sense the term “Psychodynamics”, also known as psychodynamic psychology, is an approach to psychology that emphasizes systematic study of the psychological forces that underlie human behaviour, feelings, and emotions and how they might relate to early experience. It is especially deals with the dynamic relations between conscious motivation and unconscious motivation.

At present, psychodynamics is an evolving multi-disciplinary field which analyzes and studies human thought process, response patterns, and influences. Research in this field provides insights into a number of areas, including:

1. Understanding and anticipating the range of specific conscious and unconscious responses to specific sensory inputs, as images, colours, textures, sounds, etc.
2. Utilizing the communicative nature of movement and primal physiological gestures to affect and study specific mind-body states.
3. Examining the capacity for the mind and senses to directly affect physiological response and biological change

Cognitive psychodynamics which is a blend of traditional psychodynamic concepts with cognitive psychology and neuroscience is another evolving areas in Psychodynamic psychotherapy.