P: There may be other explanations.

E: For instance, Hans' phobia could potentially be better explained by classical conditioning. Behaviourists would suggest that Hans' fear was caused by having a bad experience in the past with horses, so the horse (neutral stimulus) has become associated with a frightening event, resulting in a response of fear.

E: This is a limitation as it shows that the fear developed by little Hans may be better explained by behaviourism and the process of classical conditioning, potentially suggesting that Hans' phobia had no association with the Oedipus complex and is instead a conditioned response caused by a frightening experience with a horse, weakening the case study as support for the approach.

P: Freud's research support from his investigation into Little Hans was highly subjective.

E: This is because it was collected second-hand through Hans' father, and thus the data could have been interpreted to fit with Freud's existing theory. This is because Hans' father was already a supporter of Freud's work and was also familiar with the Oedipus complex.

E: Therefore, it is possible that this influenced the information he provided to Freud. For example, Hans' father may have asked him leading questions, seeing an Oedipus complex where one didn't exist. This is a weakness as it reduces the validity of the findings

P: The psychodynamic approach has practical application in the form of psychoanalysis

E: This treats mental disorders psychologically rather than physically. For instance, Freudian therapists have used dream analysis to access the unconscious mind, which they have claimed to be successful with many patients.

E: This is a strength because it provides therapists with alternative options to consider when attempting to treat a patient, which may mean a greater chance of recovery. Though, this may not be useful for all types of mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, as they may struggle to articulate their thoughts in the way that is required for psychoanalysis, presenting a weakness of the practical application

P: Many of the approach's core concepts are abstract and untestable.

E: As a result, they can't be directly measured and empirical evidence can't be gained to support the key concepts of the theory, especially since the main method of investigation used by the approach is case studies, such as Little Hans.

E: This is a weakness as it makes it hard to know how accurate the explanations are as they aren't falsifiable. It is also difficult to generalise to others in order to make universal claims about human behaviour, ultimately reducing the scientific credibility of psychology