How can the psychodynamic theory be useful in the effect it has specifically based on childhood experiences in how adults treat animals? To further understand the question and how it is useful, a foundation of the psychodynamic theory is imperative. Let’s see how this psychological perspective influences adults’ attitudes, behaviors, and thoughts towards animals through research studies.
According to the dictionary, the psychodynamic theory is defined as “The interaction of various conscious and unconscious mental or emotional processes, especially as they influence personality, behavior, and attitudes.” This theory consists of all theories focused on how humans function based on drives and forces within a person and the different structures of personality. The "psychoanalytic" theory founded by Sigmund Freud and those of his followers are the basis of the psychodynamic approach. It is said that this theory focuses on the fact that childhood experiences make up to be someone's personality. Sigmund Freud's theory is known to be questioned by other theorists because it is claimed that his theories are not scientifically possible to test, although specific studies like "Little Hans”, clearly showed otherwise.
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Thus, Freud interpreted that Hans’s phobia of horses were symbolic of his father. Hans feared that his father (horse) would castrate him for having sexual desires towards his mother. This study proved Freud's Oedipus Complex in the psychodynamic theory where boys develops a sexual love for their mother and see their father as a rival and develop a fear of them. In this case the fear was directed towards animals (horses) in relation to his father. This proves that the way we are treated or certain life experiences during our childhood years shape our behavior around