Psychodynamic Approach To Depression

However, the social learning theory is limited to the understanding of certain behaviours due to the fact that it does not consider nature aspects and the fact that certain behavioural activities can be caused as a result of genetics. It has been proven by research that we are able to inherit a vulnerability to depression. This means that if a parent or close relative has previously suffered from depression, we are more likely to inherit a propensity to cultivate the illness. This does not necessarily mean that the individual will definitely become depressed, however does prove that the environment is not solely responsible for the development of this illness. Studies relating to the heredity possibility of depression within families have highlighted

This approach believes that an addiction is a disorder of self-regulation. They believe that individuals who have a history of confrontational childhood settings often have a condensed capability to control undesirable emotions and deal effectively with stress. These people are therefore self-medicating for anxiety and depression. According to Freud, our personality involves three components: the id, the superego, and the ego. A contemporary psychodynamic view of substance abuses and addictive behaviour is that it is a defence mechanism performed by the body against forms of anxiety. They believe that individual’s abuse alcohol and other substances, such as drugs, in order to protect themselves against anxiety and other emotions such as depression. Hunger, anger, loneliness and fatigue are emotions which are considered to make an individual more vulnerable to substance abuse. Early psychodynamic theories of addictions placed a considerable amount of emphasis on it occurring a result of pleasure seeking and self-destruction. However, the current psychodynamic approach tries to recognise an addict’s uncertainties whilst they are attempting to regulate their internal emotional state alongside the modification to external reality. The use and explanations of the psychodynamic approach allows for an individual to observe unanswered questions, struggles and symptoms which may occur as a result of a past dysfunctional relationship with a parent or other close relative, thus influencing them to abuse substances. Many individuals who suffer from a substance abuse disorder often have negative expectations of others' thoughts towards and about them. This is known as a core response from others. However, no one is certain of which aspect came first - the response or the addictive