Comparative Analysis: Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Theories

This report presents a peer response that critically examines the psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral theories. It begins by highlighting the conflict between the two theories, with psychodynamic theory emphasizing the impact of childhood experiences and unconscious processes on behavior, as proposed by Freud. The report then contrasts this with the cognitive behavioral theory, which focuses on learned behaviors and cognitive processes. The report delves into the key principles of each theory, including the role of the unconscious and the stages of psychosexual development in psychodynamic theory, and the application of operant conditioning and cognitive psychology in cognitive behavioral theory. The report also discusses the reliability and validity of each theory, considering criticisms and advancements in the field. Furthermore, the report references key literature, including works by Beck, Freeman, and Davids, and Bernstein, to support the analysis of the two theories and their relevance in understanding human behavior and mental health.

Running Head: PEER RESPONSE
PEER RESPONSE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1PEER RESPONSE
The conflict between Freud’s theory of psychodynamic and Albert’s Cognitive
Behavioral Theory is prevalent since the time it has been discovered. Both of the theories are
based on contradicting school of thoughts that includes the principles it is based on. The peer
response will be on the contrast and the reliability and validity of both psychological theories
that helps in framing the whole school of psychology.
The theory of psychodynamic signifies that an individual’s responses to daily life
situations or moments of stress is influenced by their previous year experiences. The focus is on
the childhood experiences and the several stages as discovered by Sigmund Freud. The field of
psychopathology suggests that the conflicts, which are not resolved in the psychosexual stage in
a person leads to their fixation. People in those times criticized that this theory is not related to
any scientific approach and it was outdated as it was only based on theoretical and philosophical
foundations (Bernstein, 2016). However, the followers of Freud started to research more so that
they can prove his theory correct and one of the discovery was that social interdependence was
necessary for relationships including the idea of social equality and prevalence of community.
The question is whether the theory of psychodynamic is reliable for influencing an individual’s
comprehension or it makes an impact on decision making skills?
On the contrary, Cognitive Behavioral theory is more technical and relies on the concepts
of behavioral learning that includes operant conditioning and cognitive psychology. The
foundation of this theory is that it is clearly rooted towards logic and ignorance of false beliefs.
The behavior of a person depends on what they have learnt in their life than what they have
experienced (Beck, Freeman & Davids, 2007). The cause of problems are identified to treat a
person with mental disabilities and it is also adapted in a multicultural context. The major
question about both the theories is that, which is the more reliable of the two?

2PEER RESPONSE
References
Beck, A. T., Freeman, A., & Davids, D. D. (2007). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders.
New York: Guilford.
Bernstein, D. (2016). Chapter 13: Personality. In Psychology. (10th Edition). Boston: Cengage
Learning.