Psychodynamic Approach and Case Analysis

This assignment delves into the psychodynamic perspective in psychology, focusing on the work of Adler, Erikson, and Freud. It utilizes a case study of an individual named Patrick to illustrate how childhood experiences shape personality and behavior. The analysis explores concepts like the id, ego, and superego, as well as the influence of unconscious drives. The assignment highlights the relevance of this approach in social care work by demonstrating its potential for understanding and positively impacting individuals' lives.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Assignment 1- Case Study
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
PSYCHOLOGY
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Discussion..................................................................................................................................2
Interpersonal skills needed for working with Patrick............................................................2
Assumptions and theories of the psychodynamic approach..................................................3
Analysis of the case study in context to the psychodynamic approach.................................4
Solutions for the problems identified in the case...................................................................4
Ethical considerations important for working with Patrick...................................................5
Usefulness of psychodynamic approach for understanding human behavior........................6
Reflection...................................................................................................................................6
Learning about myself............................................................................................................6
Comment of my suitability for social care work....................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................9

2
PSYCHOLOGY
Introduction
The case study provided is about a 14years old boy name Patrick martin. This child
was there in the care at the age of six months because his father was in prison and his mother
was having postnatal depression. However, he returned home but again came back to the care
within 5 months. At very early age, he started to beg as well as steal because he got the
encouragement from his mother. He uses to stay out late playing with older boys who made
him harm others. Thus, he started taking cigarettes and alcohol as a reward from his friends in
small amounts. Moreover, his behavior in school was also inappropriate which mainly
reflects in the playground where he showed aggressive behavior to his classmate. At present,
he is under the Child residential care where neither his mother nor his siblings want to meet
him because of this abusive and aggressive behavior. Patrick is having difficulty with his fine
and gross motor skills and often complains about headache.
The aim of this report is to explain the interpersonal skills needed to deal with Patrick,
the case related assumptions and theories, suggested solutions, ethical considerations
followed by a reflection of this case study.
Discussion
Interpersonal skills needed for working with Patrick
Working with children is much more difficult than working with adults. Thus, there
are few interpersonal skills, which are necessary to dealing with children like Patrick. The
first skill in the list is Patience, because it is the most important skill needed when dealing
with children who are as abusive and aggressive as Patrick is. These children have different
understanding than adults for which it is frustrating while dealing with them (Koprowska
2014). The next is the capability to hide annoyance. Children can easily understand even

3
PSYCHOLOGY
slight change in the adult’s attitude thus, it is important to hide tiredness as well as annoyance
else they might feel demotivated. Keeping calm at emergencies is another most needed
interpersonal skill needed to deal with Patrick. Working with children like Patrick in large
groups needs a calm presence because these children will look at the adult for their further
reactions. The next in the list is Communicationbecause it is important so that the children
can related to situations when they are learning new skills or understanding new concepts or
ideas. Lastly, Enthusiasm, because these children must also understand that adults who are
working with them are comfortable being their there company (Merrell and Gimpel 2014).
Most adults usually reject children like Patrick so if they find that someone is happy and likes
spending time with them then definitely they will open up more.
Assumptions and theories of the psychodynamic approach
Psychoanalysis by Freud was the actual psychodynamic theory but as a whole, this
approach involves the theories of Jung (1964), Adler (1927) and Erikson (1950) (Nemiroff
and Colarusso 2013). The basic assumptions of psychodynamic approach are as follows-
 The very first assumption is that the important causes of behavior according to this
theory have their emergence in the unconscious
 Second assumption says that all the adult behavior as well as feelings are the
reflection of their childhood experiences
 According to the third assumption states that the different parts of unconscious mind
that is the id, ego and superego are in a continuous struggle
 Lastly, this approach assumes that all human behavior including the slip of tongue are
previously determined behaviors. This means that every behavior has a cause or a
reason (Colarusso and Nemiroff 2013).

4
PSYCHOLOGY
Freud through his structural model has explains the three parts of individual’s personality
which mainly comprises of id, ego and superego (Rennison 2015). Jung, who was a supporter
of Freud, came up with concepts likepsychic energy, personal, collective unconscious, and
archetypes. However, Adler believed that all humans are born with a sense of inferiority
which is proves how helpless a just born is. Along with this, Adler has also emphasized on
birth order, which he considers as a major factors in development. Lastly, Erickson considers
that an individual stage has certain barriers, which they need to cross so that they can become
successful in later stages of life (Shardlow et al. 2015).
Analysis of the case study in context to the psychodynamic approach
According to psychodynamic perspectives, the condition of Patrick can be said to be
not the actual reflection of his real personality structure rather it represents the signs of
intrapsychic tensions in him. The nature of the conflicts as well as the causes of motivation
that is the reason for the anxieties, which guides Patrick towards his inappropriate behaviors,
can be widely varied (Gabbard 2014). Thus, it can be that he is in an unconscious need for
punishment or there might be a hidden desire to punish his parents or his effort to manifest
his masculinity. Whatever the actual need is for Patrick, the purpose behind his symptoms
like aggression and misconduct is to please these needs. Thus, from the psychodynamic
perspective it can be said for Patrick’s condition the main reason is that the procedure
through which ego, ego ideal and superego emerges, has gone awry. Therefore, Patrick is
having difficulty in balancing these three mental structures of his and so he is unable to bring
them at equilibrium (Siegel 2015).
Solutions for the problems identified in the case
The main problem identified in Patrick is his aggressive and inappropriate behavior.
For these the main solution is the love and support from his parental figures, teachers as well
as peers. Apart from that,psychotherapy and behavioral therapies can also guide Patrick to

5
PSYCHOLOGY
manage his issues. Through the therapies the family of Patrick should also brought into the
loop where it will become an opportunity for the family members to learn the best ways to
communicate with the child (Reynolds et al. 2012). Moreover, in addition to these
pharmacotherapycan also be beneficial for Patrick. Though there is no particular
pharmacotherapy for Patrick but for specific symptoms, there are certain beneficial drugs
(Gorman et al. 2015). Therefore, medicines can improve Patrick’s attention as well as
enhance his inhibitory activity; moreover, medicines can further improve his capacity so that
he is benefited from other psychosocial interventions.
Ethical considerations important for working with Patrick
The social workers has several set rules or guiding principles which can help them in
making perfect decisions by doing justice to the profession they are in. These decisions are
considered best for client like Patrick, which might contradict with what might have done in
personal lives of the social workers. The first ethical consideration that social workers should
take care of is to maintain a healthy and appropriate boundary and from the very
beginning, the relationship must be very much professional (Banks 2012). Confidentiality is
another ethical consideration, which is essential when working with children like Patrick
because violating confidentiality can destroy the rapport established with the child. Trust
factoris also necessary with the children, their families as well as with the overall community
(Reamer 2013). Trust is important because if though the client is a child but it is important to
support their self-determination and breaking their confidentiality can actually have an
impact on their trust. Social workers should also be honest as well as responsible towards
their clients and overall to their work. Children today are fast learner of technologies so while
dealing with them one has to be a competent user of technology, because sharing the
personal information and activities on social media with the child can be unethical (Parrott
2014).

6
PSYCHOLOGY
Usefulness of psychodynamic approach for understanding human behavior
The psychodynamic approach mainly pays attention on how the internal processes
encourage human behavior. It has been observed that in the early childhood experiences the
emotions, unconscious as well as conscious mental activities of individuals play a vital role.
Therefore, based on the perspective it has been found that emotions have an important part to
play in the human behavior (Gabbard 2014). Thus, it can be said that how a person will react
or behave in a particular situation are shaped by his or her feelings. According to the
topographical theory of mind, it states that human behavior is motivated by conscious,
unconscious and preconscious mind. Moreover, the childhood experience one had in his or
her early days will have a necessary role to play in building human experience. Abuse
experience or observing such acts can inbuilt an emotional issue within the child which will
be reflected in adulthood. Thus, as per the psychodynamic theory humans act as per their
unconscious processes as well as impulses. Apart from all these psychodynamic approaches
also helps with psychological treatments related to human behavior that are still in use, for
instance Rorschach inkblot test and assessment of dreams.
Reflection
Learning about myself
Psychodynamic approach has taught me that the human functioning I acquire like
every other human being is because of the association of drives and the forces within me. I
understood that the main interaction is between the unconscious and the various structures of
personality that I have. I further came to know that what my personality is today as an adult
is actually the outcome of my childhood experiences. Thus, psychodynamic approach
actually made me realize that my childhood experiences had a very important role to play in
shaping up my personality. Reading through this approach has also enlightened me with the
fact that the way I behave is determined by unconscious activity. Therefore, unconscious

7
PSYCHOLOGY
mind also has a powerful impact. Moreover, like every other human being I too possess
certain inborn drives that in a way activate my mind to encourage my behavior as I am
developing throughout my life. Thus, my psyche or the unconscious mind, which comprises
my personality, is divided into three parts- Id, which works as per the pleasure principle, Ego
that works as per the reality principle and lastly, superego which works as per the morality
principle. Therefore, whenever I am anxious this means that my unconscious mind is in a
conflict with the conscious part of my mind.
Comment of my suitability for social care work
I personally feel after dealing with a case like Patrick, that studying psychology has
been beneficial for me as I am working in a social care. Psychology taught me the science of
human behavior as well as mind, which is actually helping me in providing practical as well
as emotional support to those people who are unable to manage it on their own due to their
disability, illness or ageing. Having studied psychology it becomes easier for me to
understand a child’s developmental as well as identity needs, their methodological
understanding, about their family or caring environment. I can further find it comfortable for
suggesting about their strategies related to their interventions. Therefore, I feel psychology as
well as my practical case handlings will guide me in the end to have a positive impact on
other’s lives. Moreover, I feel I can better identify the various ways to improvise the
therapeutic relationships, identify the factors affecting the chronic illnesses and the demands
of the daily life and thus, guide the people better to cope with their difficulties in a much
confident way.

8
PSYCHOLOGY
Conclusion
Thus, to conclude that in this report it can be said that Patrick whose case has been
identified with aggressive and inappropriate behavior since childhood is at the residential care
home currently. The interpersonal skills a social worker will need to work with children like
Patrick are mainly patience, capability to hide frustration or annoyance, being calm at
emergencies, communication and enthusiasm. However, the psychodynamic approach has
been discussed here which helps in understanding the human behavior involving the theories
of Jung (1964), Adler (1927) and Erikson (1950). Patrick’s case can be easily analyzed with
the help of psychodynamic perspective because this approach highlights the importance of
childhood experience, which plays a huge role in shaping one’s personality. Lastly, studying
the psychodynamic approach I learnt that the functioning I poses as a human is due to the
association between my drives and forces within me. Moreover, studying psychology and
dealing cases like Patrick can help in my future social care works because I feel it can guide
me more in having a positive impact on other’s life by understanding their behavior and
mind.

9
PSYCHOLOGY
Bibliography
Banks, S., 2012. Ethics and values in social work. Palgrave Macmillan.
Colarusso, C.A. and Nemiroff, R.A., 2013. Adult development: A new dimension in
psychodynamic theory and practice. Springer Science & Business Media.
Gabbard, G.O., 2014. Psychodynamic psychiatry in clinical practice. American Psychiatric
Pub.
Gorman, D.A., Gardner, D.M., Murphy, A.L., Feldman, M., Bélanger, S.A., Steele, M.M.,
Boylan, K., Cochrane-Brink, K., Goldade, R., Soper, P.R. and Ustina, J., 2015. Canadian
guidelines on pharmacotherapy for disruptive and aggressive behaviour in children and
adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or
conduct disorder. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 60(2), pp.62-76.
Jung, C.G., 2014. The structure and dynamics of the psyche(Vol. 8). Routledge.
Koprowska, J., 2014. Communication and interpersonal skills in social work. Learning
Matters.
Merrell, K.W. and Gimpel, G., 2014. Social skills of children and adolescents:
Conceptualization, assessment, treatment. Psychology Press.
Nemiroff, R.A. and Colarusso, C.A., 2013. The race against time: Psychotherapy and
psychoanalysis in the second half of life. Springer Science & Business Media.
Parrott, L., 2014. Values and ethics in social work practice. Learning Matters.
Ramachandran, V.S., 2012. Encyclopedia of human behavior(Vol. 3). Academic Press.
Reamer, F.G., 2013. Social work values and ethics. Columbia University Press.

10
PSYCHOLOGY
Rennison, N., 2015. Freud And Psychoanalysis: Everything You Need To Know About Id,
Ego, Super-Ego and More. Oldcastle Books.
Reynolds, S., Wilson, C., Austin, J. and Hooper, L., 2012. Effects of psychotherapy for
anxiety in children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review. Clinical psychology
review, 32(4), pp.251-262.
Shardlow, S., Aldgate, J., Gibson, A., Brearley, J., Daniel, B., Statham, D., Sheppard, M.,
Macdonald, G., Marsh, P., Walker, S. and Doel, M., 2015. Handbook for practice learning in
social work and social care: knowledge and theory. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Siegel, D.J., 2015. The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape
who we are. Guilford Publications.