Psychoanalytic Theory

Basic Freudian Propositions

Clinical Experiences
Anna O. (Breuer) Unexpressed emotion -> pathology Unaware of emotion (unconscious) Emotion expression reduces pathology

Fundamental Assumptions of Psychoanalytic Theory

The Basic Instincts Unconscious Motivation Psychic Determinism Energy Model

Fundamental Assumptions of Psychoanalytic Theory

The Basic Instincts: Sex and Aggression Closely follows Darwins theory Freud believed that everything humans do can be understood as manifestations of the life and death instincts Later termed libido (life) and thanatos (death)

Fundamental Assumptions of Psychoanalytic Theory

Unconscious Motivation Individuals control their sexual and aggressive urges by placing them in the unconscious These take on a life of their own and become the motivated unconscious

Fundamental Assumptions of Psychoanalytic Theory

Psychic Determinism

Nothing happens by chance or accident Everything we do, think, say, and feel is an expression of our mind

Fundamental Assumptions of Psychoanalytic Theory

Energy Model

Humans are viewed as energy systems Hydraulic model. Energy transformed but not destroyed

Levels of Consciousness
Conscious - current awareness Preconscious - not aware of material but its retrievable (via ordinary retrieval) Unconscious - not aware of material but its not retrievable (via ordinary retrieval)

Issues Regarding the Unconscious

How can the existence of the unconscious be demonstrated?
Why do humans have an unconscious?

Personality and Psychoanalysis

Techniques for Revealing the Unconscious
Free Association Dream Analysis Projective Techniques Recovered Memories

The Structure of Personality

ID

EGO

SUPEREGO

The Structure of Personality

The Id Reservoir of Psychic Energy
Most

primitive part of the mind; what we are born with Source of all drives and urges Operates according to the pleasure principle and primary process thinking

The Structure of Personality

The Ego- Executive of Personality
The

part of the mind that constrains the id to reality Develops around 2-3 years of age Operates according to the reality principle and secondary process thinking Mediates between id, superego, and environment

The Structure of Personality

The Superego- Upholder of Values and Ideals
The

part of the mind that internalizes the values, morals, and ideals of society Develops around age 5 Not bound by reality

Psychodynamics
Conflict model
Id vs. superego; Individual vs. society Restrain expression of all drives Surplus energy results in anxiety

Defense Mechanisms
Unconscious psychological processes designed to avoid or reduce the conscious experience of anxiety

Anxiety and the Mechanisms of Defense

Repression
Unconscious Motivated Forgetting

The process of preventing unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or urges from reaching conscious awareness

Anxiety and the Mechanisms of Defense

Denial
Unconscious Motivated Not Perceiving

Perceptual Defense Research

Anxiety and the Mechanisms of Defense

Other Defense Mechanisms

Reaction Formation
Act

opposite of impulse impulse external

Projection
Make

Anxiety and the Mechanisms of Defense

Other Defense Mechanisms

Isolation/Intellectualization
Isolate

emotional reaction abstractly

Process

Anxiety and the Mechanisms of Defense

Other Defense Mechanisms Displacement Channel impulse to non-threatening target Sublimation Channel impulse into socially desired activity

Anxiety and the Mechanisms of Defense

Defense Mechanisms in Everyday Life
Useful

in coping with unexpected or disappointing events also make circumstances worse

Can

Personality and Psychoanalysis

Making the Unconscious Conscious Techniques for Revealing the Unconscious The Process of Psychoanalysis

Personality and Psychoanalysis

The goal of psychoanalysis is to make the unconscious conscious
Identify

unconscious thoughts and feelings Enable the person to deal with the unconscious urges realistically and maturely But how to penetrate the unconscious mind?

Personality and Psychoanalysis

The Process of Psychoanalysis
The

psychoanalyst offers the patient interpretations of the psychodynamic causes of the problems The interpretations bring insight Resistance may occur as a defense Transference of feelings

Evaluating Freuds Contributions

Proponents argue it is the first and perhaps only comprehensive theory of human nature Psychoanalysis has had a major impact on Western thought

Critics maintain it is not contemporary

The nature of evidence upon which it was built can be criticized Emphasis on sexual drives is inappropriate

Summary
There

are 3 main forces in the psyche that constantly interact to tame the 2 motives Defense mechanisms help keep urges, thoughts, and memories that cause anxiety in the unconscious
Psychoanalysis

is a therapy used for making the patient's unconscious conscious

Anxiety and the Mechanisms of Defense

Types of Anxiety Repression Other Defense Mechanisms Defense Mechanisms in Everyday Life

Anxiety and the Mechanisms of Defense

Types of Anxiety

Objective Anxiety Neurotic Anxiety Moral Anxiety Defense Mechanisms