The Role of Psychodynamics on Quality-of-Life Interventions

*Benedito Miranda and Mário Louzã*

### **Abstract**

This chapter aims to demonstrate that psychodynamics can contribute to intervention programs in quality of life. The authors conducted a study in Brazil (already published) showing a proportional relationship between psychodynamics and quality of life. This study has also shown that quality of life is unrelated to monthly income, workplace, or working hours. But it is related to the psychological maturity of the individuals, evaluated by their psychodynamics. The greater the psychological maturity is, the better the quality of life, and vice versa. This chapter presents the concept of psychodynamics, psychological maturity, and how it relates to the quality of life. It also offers original psychodynamic guidelines to improve the psychological development of human beings and, consequently, their quality of life.

**Keywords:** psychodynamics, quality of life, interventions, ego defense mechanisms, object attachment, psychological maturity

#### **1. Introduction**

Psychodynamics is a branch of Psychoanalysis that studies the activity of psychological processes underlying human behavior. It also analyzes the relationship between two opposing psychological forces involved in the psychological conflict.

Psychodynamics brings the concept of psychological maturity. In this way, an individual's psychodynamics interferes with how he sees the world and, therefore, can influence his assessment of his quality of life. So, quality-of-life interventions can consider resources that improve the psychological development of human beings and, consequently, their quality of life.
