Psychodynamics, also known as dynamic psychology, in its
broadest sense, is an approach to psychology that emphasises
systematic study of the psychological forces that underlie human
behaviour, feelings and emotions and how they might relate to
early experience. It is especially interested in the dynamic
relations between conscious motivation and unconscious
motivation. The term psychodynamics is also used by some to
refer specifically to the psychoanalytical approach developed by
Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) and his followers. Freud was inspired
by the theory of thermodynamics and used the term psychodynamics
to describe the processes of the mind as flows of psychological
energy (libido) in an organically complex brain. The use of the
term psychodynamics for Freud's successors is confusing though,
because some of those successors, in particular John Bowlby,
opposed the founding principles of Freud's theory, forming
opposing factions.[original research?] Bowlby's attachment
theory, still described as 'psychodyna