Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

What treatment method is associated with the psychodynamic approach?

1. Modeling.

2. Behavior modification.

3. Psychoanalysis.

4. Assimilation.

The correct answer is: Psychoanalysis.

The psychodynamic approach is fundamentally rooted in the exploration of the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior. Psychoanalysis, as a treatment method, was developed by Sigmund Freud and is characterized by techniques such as free association, dream interpretation, and the analysis of resistance and transference. This approach aims to uncover repressed thoughts and emotions that are believed to be at the core of psychological distress, facilitating insight and self-understanding for the patient. Psychoanalysis fosters a therapeutic alliance where the patient can feel safe to explore their inner thoughts and feelings, leading to transformative changes in behavior and emotional well-being. This method stands apart from the other options, which focus on different psychological concepts and techniques that are not intrinsic to psychodynamic theory. For example, modeling is a behaviorist technique used in social learning theory, and behavior modification is a strategy rooted in operant conditioning. Assimilation, in psychological terms, refers to the process of integrating new information into existing cognitive schemas and does not pertain directly to a specific therapeutic method. Thus, psychoanalysis is the treatment method specifically aligned with the psychodynamic approach.