The Psychodynamic Model

Main assumptions: Human Functioning is shaped by Dynamic(interacting) psychological forces

Psychological disorders are caused by emotional problems in the unconscious mind The causes of these emotional problems can usually be traced back to early childhood The relationship between child and parents is a crucial determinant of mental health The symptoms of a disorder have a hidden meaning that can be decoded

The Unconscious Mind

The conscious. The small amount of mental activity we know about. The preconscious. Things we could be aware of if we wanted or tried. The unconscious. Things we are unaware of and can not become aware of.

Thoughts Perceptions
Memories Stored knowledge

Fears Unacceptable sexual desires Violent motives Irrational wishes Immoral urges Selfish needs Shameful experiences Traumatic experiences

The Psyche

Id: Instincts

Ego: Reality

Superego: Morality

Healthy Psyche
OK Guys Im in charge. Anything you want has to go through me. OK.

OK.

Ego
Id Superego

Neurotic Psyche
Listen up! Im in charge, and you are not here to enjoy yourselves. Get ready for a double-size portion of anxiety with a side order of guilt! No fun.
>whimper<

Superego Id Ego

Psychotic Psyche
Sex! Food! Drink! Drugs! NOW!
Who turned out the lights?

Id

Ego

Superego

Psychopathic Psyche
OK. First, gimme food. Then I want sex lots of it and I dont particularly care whether its with a willing partner. Then I want to hurt people. Badly. Probably be hungry again after that so

OK then. Lets go.

Defense Mechanisms

Function: Used by ego to defend against anxiety Involves distortion of reality Operate unconsciously

Defense Mechanisms

Defense Mechanisms(contd)
Denial

Projection
Attribute unacceptable thoughts or impulses onto others (project these inappropriate thoughts etc onto others)

Refusal to accept external realities because too threatening to enter awareness

Repression

Displacement
Shifting attention from one target that is no longer available to a more acceptable or safer substitute

Internal impulses and memories too threatening so bared from entering awareness

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Defense Mechanisms(contd)
Sublimation

Reaction Formation
Converting unacceptable and dangerous impulses into something positive to reduce anxiety

Healthiest defense mechanism Compromise Takes socially unacceptable impulses and turns them into something positive & acceptable

Rationalization

Regression
Reverting to behavior that is characteristic to an earlier stage of development when confronted with stress or anxiety
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Explaining an unacceptable behavior in a way that overlooks present shortcomings or failures

Defense Mechanisms(contd)
Identification

Intellectualization
Also called isolation of affect T ponder topics such as death and separation without the negative emotions

Affiliation oneself psychologically with a person, group or institution. Wearing T-Shirts or jackets with sports teams.

Undoing

Isolation
Refusing to deal with or encounter unpleasant objects or situations.

Trying to undo an unacceptable act.

To nullify a negative activity

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Defense Mechanisms(contd)
Compensation

Emotional Insulation
Coping with stress by engaging in actions rather than reflecting on internal feelings.

Covering up weakness. Bald people wearing hats.

Fantasy

Aim Inhibition
Accepting a modified form of the original goal Such as becoming a basketball coach rather than a professional athlete.
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Gratifying frustrated desires.

Such as day dreaming.

Freuds Psychosexual Stages

Oral

STAGE
(0-18 months)

FOCUS

Pleasure centers on the mouth-sucking, chewing, biting Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for control Pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with incestuous sexual feelings. Oedipus and Electra Complex Zone. Dormant sexual feeling Maturation of sexual interest

Anal

(18-36 months)

Phallic

(3-6 years)

Latency Genital

(6 to puberty) (puberty on)

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Therapeutic Techniques of Psychoanalysis

Free association
Patient says whatever comes to mind Catharsis: Expression of emotions that is expected to lead to the reduction of disturbing symptoms

Slips of tongue (Freudian slip) Jokes

Freud believed that unconscious desires and unfulfilled wishes are expressed through jokes and slips of the tongue
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Freudian Slip & Joke

Therapeutic Techniques of Psychoanalysis

Dream analysis
The royal road to the unconscious and Guardian of Sleep

Manifest content (what it Appeared to be) Latent content (repressed Thoughts Seeking Expression) According to Freuds(1955) dream symbolism theory, dreams contain objects that depict male and female sexuality
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The Neo-Freudians: Carl Jungs Analytical Psychology

The Personal and the Collective Unconscious Jung shared, yet rejected, many of Freud's beliefs Jung believed in the importance of the unconscious and the power of dream analysis Jung favored spirituality and the notion of psychosocial rather than psychosexual energy
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The Neo-Freudians: Carl Jungs Analytical Psychology

The Personal and the Collective Unconscious Jung referred to the personal unconscious as a collection of personal experiences Coined the term complex to reflect personal tension Referred to a collective unconscious to reflect spiritual influences, composed of various archetypes, that are inherited and universal
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The Neo-Freudians: Carl Jungs Analytical Psychology

Specific Archetypes The mandala refers to the goal of a developing unified self that is a unique process (individuation) The anima refers to the feminine side of males, whereas the animus refers to the masculine side of females The shadow archetype refers to the dark side of humanity
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The Neo-Freudians: Carl Jungs Analytical Psychology

IntroversionExtroversion Jung was the first person to make the extroversionintroversion distinction Jung viewed extroversion as energy habitually directed outward and introversion as energy habitually directed inward Jung viewed extroversion and introversion as different cognitive states that affect attention and objectivity
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The Neo-Freudians: Alfred Adler

Adlers perspective views each person as unique, and he represents a movement called individual psychology Adler refuted Freuds notion that sexual urges motivate people Adler believed that people try to overcome a sense of inferiority that arises from a biological weakness (organ inferiority) or from a psychological weakness

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The Neo-Freudians: Alfred Adler

Styles of Life and the Meaning of Life Styles of life are unique patterns of life expression that are the result of early life experiences Meanings that are gravely mistaken result from situations that involve organ inferiority, pampered children, and neglected children
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The Neo-Freudians: Alfred Adler

Styles of Life and the Meaning of Life Organ inferiority contributes to humiliation and defensiveness from social comparisons, but can be overcomed Pampered children feel prominent and may react when they no longer feel this way Neglected children may become cold and hostile due to their mistrust of others
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The Neo-Freudians: Alfred Adler

Styles of Life and the Meaning of Life Adlers focus in therapy was on discovering prototypes (early memories) called old remembrances that determine adult styles of life Adler outlined four styles of life:
1. 2. 3. 4.

Ruling Type: desire for control Getting Type: dependent on others Avoiding Type: avoidant and isolated Socially Useful Type: self-control and social interest
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The Neo-Freudians: Alfred Adler

Social Interest Social interest develops in childhood and is influenced by the interaction with the mother Adler referred to the superiority complex to describe persons having more interest in personal goals than in social interest, and overcompensating for feelings of inferiority Research has reported low intercorrelations among measures of social interest
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The Neo-Freudians: Alfred Adler

Birth Order Adler supported a link between birth order and personality and outlined several types: Only children are pampered and lack social interest First-born children are conservative and obedient Second-born children are best adjusted
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The Neo-Freudians: Karen Horney

The Importance of Culture and Social Interactions Horney believed that cultural factors influence personality and individual differences Horney identified three contradictions for all people: 1. Success vs. Love 2. Idealism vs. Frustration 3. Independence vs. Situational constraints
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The Neo-Freudians: Karen Horney

Basic Anxiety and Basic Hostility Horney asserted that behavior is directed by basic anxiety (helplessness, fear of abandonment) Horney asserted that children develop basic hostility as a result of parental neglect Horney suggested that a basic conflict arises from contradictions and is central to neurosis
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The Neo-Freudians: Karen Horney

Moving Toward, Against, and Away From People

For Horney, neurosis stems from opposing desires to move toward, against, and away from others which she called attitudes Horney outlined ten neurotic needs that reflect personal maladjustment in moving toward, against, and away from people
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The Neurotic Needs

The Neo-Freudians: Karen Horney

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Psychodynamic Assessment Techniques

The Rorschach Inkblot Test The Rorschach Inkblot Test consists of color and back-and-white inkblots of ambiguous stimuli A participant is presented with 10 inkblots and required to state what is seen in each stimulus Personality is thus projected onto the inkblot
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Thank You