CHAPTER 3The Psychoanalytical Approach

WHY IS FREUD IMPORTANT?

Profound influence on psychology and modern ideas about the mind

Developed first comprehensive theory of personality – remains most comprehensive today!

Developed first Psychotherapy – 75% (or more) of today’s practitioners rely on Freud’s ideas in some way

Huge influence on Popular Culture

Stressed the importance of the influence of the environment and early development

Described the Defense Mechanisms

Discovered Unconscious thought

BASIC IDEAS THAT GOVERN PSYCHOANALYTICAL APPROACH:

1. Psychic Determinism – Everything happens for a reason

2. Internal Structure of Personality (includes the topographic model and the structural model)

3. Psychic Conflict – Describes how the structural model works (healthy personality and unhealthy personality)

4. Mental Energy – Libido and Thanatos

Doctrine of Opposites - everything contains it’s opposite

PSYCHIC DETERMINISM

Everything in the mind, behavior, and the thought processes of an individual has a cause and this cause can be identified

There are no accidents, miracles, or free will

Usually the reason for thoughts feelings and behavior lies in the unconscious

TOPOGRAPHIC MODEL Unconscious – you do not have access to

unconscious thoughts, desires, impulses at all

Preconscious – just at the tip of consciousness – sometimes have access, usually do not

Conscious – you have access to all of this information, what you are aware of

Modern research supports this theory

STRUCTURAL MODEL

Three parts of the mind:

(It) (I) (Over-I)ID Ego SUPEREGO

Irrational, Rational Moralemotional

* In parentheses are the literal German translation of what Freud called the three parts of the mind

PSYCHIC CONFLICT

The mind can be in conflict with itself, the id, ego, and superego are often in conflict with each other. For example; the Id wants you to go to the big party tonight, the superego does not want you to go to a party ever because it may be dangerous – the “healthy” ego may satisfy both urges by making the decision to go to some parties but not all parties.

This is called: Compromise Formation – when the mind is in conflict with itself– a “compromise” is made, a healthy compromise is the example above. An unhealthy compromise according to Freud is revealed in symptoms of psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive behavior.

MENTAL ENERGY

Psychological apparatus of the mind needs energy to make it go…

This energy is called: Psychic energy or libido

Conservation of energy – the mind needs to conserve energy for cognitive tasks and emotional drains. If the emotional drains become too much not enough energy is left for cognitive tasks (like homework)

MENTAL ENERGY – LIBIDO AND THANATOS

Begins with Motivation – what do people want?

Two motives are fundamental:Toward Life Toward Death

Libido Thanatos(AKA: Sex drive) (Instinctual desire for death)

Sex = Life Duality of nature

MENTAL ENERGY (CONT.)

Can neither be created or destroyed – it merely exists in all human minds

Modern Research supports:Psychic energy used for one purpose is not available for another purpose – using previous example…if too much energy is used in managing anxiety, you fail to have enough mental energy to complete cognitive and other life tasks.

Modern Research disputes: “venting” out energy – in other words, expressing negative

emotion (as in yelling at children or punching a pillow) actually makes you feel worse yet modern research supports positive release of energy, such as exercise and talking about problems

Must “follow the energy” – to determine how to help people

FREUD’S DOCTRINE OF OPPOSITES

Everything contains it’s opposite(Happiness – Sadness)

Extremes seem to be more like one another than either is with the middle – those that have psychological “trouble” are often living in one extreme or the other – a healthy personality is somewhere in the middle of the continuum, we are both happy and sad but rarely in the extremes of either (unless it is appropriate such as when we are first in love or because of the death of a loved one).

FREUD’S THEORY OF PSYCHOSEXUAL HUMAN

DEVELOPMENT

Oral Anal Phallic Latent Genital Each stage has three areas of focus:

1. Physical Focus2. Psychological Focus3. Adult Character Type(Outlined in detail in the following slides)

ORAL STAGE (BIRTH – 18 MONTHS)

Physical Focus: MouthFirst place psychic energy is focused

Psychological Focus: DependencyIf needs are filled, psychic energy and attention move to next stage. Two things can go wrong: (Doctrine of Opposites)1. Needs might not be met2. Needs met to an extreme

Adult Character Type: Oral Character(One extreme or the other)1. Fiercely independent2. Passive

ANAL STAGE (18 MONTHS – 3 YEARS) Physical Focus: Anus (and related eliminative organs)

Energy is focused on controlling bowels/emotions

Psychological Focus:Self-Control/ObedienceIf needs are filled and receive the appropriate amount of support to learn self-control, psychic energy and attention move to next stage.

Two things can go wrong:(Doctrine of Opposites)1. Too much control can be traumatic2. Never demand that child control urges

Adult Character Type: Anal Character1. Too much control, OCD or subservient2. Little or no self-control – compulsive need to disobey authority

PHALLIC STAGE (3 – 7 YEARS)

Physical Focus: PenisGender is where psychic energy is focused

Psychological Focus: Gender IdentityIf needs are filled, child establishes secure gender identity by identifying with same sex parent, psychic energy and attention move to next stage.

Two things can go wrong: (Doctrine of Opposites)

1. Identify too much with same sex parent2. Identify too little with same sex parent

Adult Character Type: Confused Identity(One extreme or the other)1. Overly sexual (promiscuous)2. Asexual or prudish

LATENCY STAGE (7-11 YEARS)

Latent – means underneath, hidden, Freud would say sexual energy (libido) is put towards learning, there is no physical or psychological focus during this stage – most children are relatively free from worry during this stage because they do not have to deal with psychic conflict

Get a break from Psychological development to focus on Cognitive development

GENITAL STAGE (12 – ADULTHOOD) Physical Focus: Genitals/Reproduction Psychic energy remains focused in this stage,

strive to attain adulthood

Psychological Focus: Creation and enhancement of lifeIf needs are filled, psychic energy and attention focus on maturity

Adult Character Type: Ability to love and work

(these are the goals of adulthood; work - find meaningful work and love – find a partner)

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:FREUD’S THEORY OF PERSONALITY

DEVELOPMENT

Id EgoSuperego

Physical Cognitive Ethical

Follows pleasure Reality principle Personal Identity

Principle and adherence to

identity

Begin with Primary Process Thinking:

Immediate gratification of every desire – Unconscious mind – Id

Move towards Secondary Process Thinking:

“THINK” Conscious part of ego, rational, practical, prudent

FREUD’S DEVELOPMENT OF “TALK THERAPY”: PSYCHOANALYSIS

First system of psychotherapy

Goal: Free up psychic energy for help with daily living by removing neurotic energy drains (anxiety, depression…)

Original process is lengthy and time consuming (three – four hours per week for many years)

When client begins to “resist” therapeutic suggestions it means therapy is working because the therapist has found the uncomfortable and forbidden feelings!!!

There is a lot going on in your mind that you do not know about!

Anxiety from Psychic conflict (Id/Ego/Superego): “I feel bad and I don’t know why”

Realistic Anxiety:Too much or too little is the problem;

balance is the key (Doctrine of opposites)See the anxiety in parapraxes, dreamsUse defense mechanisms to achieve

balanceThe daily use of defense mechanisms is not

conscious! (They are deployed by the unconscious part of the ego)

WHY YOU MAY NEED PSYCHOANALYSIS: ANXIETY

GOAL OF PSYCHOANALYTICAL THERAPY

Make the unconscious conscious!!

Cause of problematic thoughts, feelings, and behavior is mysterious and hidden

Best Therapy includes:Therapeutic Alliance (transference/not

counter transference)Dream AnalysisFree Association

PSYCHOANALYSIS: THE “TALKING CURE”

Bring thoughts and fears to conscious mind

Therapist provides emotional support

According to Freud:“Psychoanalysis is the cure through love”“Journey begins with knowing oneself”

Humanists share this viewpoint – as do most psychotherapists today

PROJECTIVE TESTS: RORSCHACH INK BLOT TEST – WHAT DO YOU

SEE?

RORSCHACH INK BLOT TEST

Client is shown a series of ink blots – psychoanalyst looks for patterns of healthy responses or unhealthy responses

The test is “scored” using one of a few developed scoring booklets which detail possible interpretations based on the answers a person gives the therapist

Widely used in forensic diagnosis today

Not widely used as a therapeutic tool

PROJECTIVE TESTS: THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST –

TELL ME A STORY ABOUT THIS PICTURE

THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST (OR TAT)

Client shown a series of ambiguous drawings and asked to tell the therapist a story about each one

The unconscious is revealed in the content of the stories because the images are ambiguous – the person put their own life meaning into the stories

Used primarily as an “ice breaker” currently, not a diagnostic tool in therapy

Sometimes used in forensic diagnosis

CHAPTER 4The Freudian Approach

DREAM ANALYSIS/INTERPRETATION“Royal Road to the Unconscious” – Freud2 Parts: 1. Manifest Content

What you remember about a dream

2. Latent ContentWhat is hidden in the dream, the unconscious intent, this is why you tell the psychoanalyst – so they can interpret the hidden meaning

A dream must by analyzed in the context of the dreamer’s life!

Important to remember that dreams are individual and there are not universal symbols, as Freud said, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”!!

DREAM ANALYSIS/INTERPRETATION

Modern research supports the individuality of dreams and that the content of our dreams are not random

REM sleep is filled with dreams and if you have the “right” amount of REM sleep you are more likely to be healthy – mentally and physically !!! (even if you don’t remember those dreams)

Modern research does not support dreams as a way to deal with psychic conflict (as Freud defined it) because babies dream as well as animals

Release of neurotic anxiety by revealing unacceptable unconscious thoughts in the form of:

Repression – Push threatening material out of consciousness – most important defense mechanism

Sublimation – Ego puts threatening unconscious impulses into socially acceptable behavior – you become more productive - only truly successful defense mechanism

Displacement – Unconscious impulses are not aimed at real source but displaced to another – example: kick the dog when you are really mad at your spouse

DEFENSE MECHANISMS

DEFENSE MECHANISMS (CONT.) Denial – Refuse to accept that certain facts exist despite

evidence to the contrary – the more we use denial the more we lose touch with reality

Reaction Formation – Hide a threatening unconscious impulse by acting in a manner opposite of our unconscious desire – example: homophobia – those that are hiding same sex attraction often are vehement opponents to gay rights while at the same time engaging in hidden, dangerous sexual liaisons – many examples in the media of such stories

Intellectualization – Remove all emotional content in description of emotional events, only discuss intellectual elements

Projection – Attribute unconscious impulses to someone else rather than to ourselves – example: “everyone is having affairs” –this is not true, demonstrates this person unconsciously may have hostility or lack of desire towards spouse or partner

Leakage of the unconscious mind manifesting itself in a mistake, accident, omission or memory lapse

Failure of ego:ForgettingLeaving someone or something out

(unconsciously)Slips: Examples below(Cut and paste in

browser or just click):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaHgbOtmgmQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VCWmHeTC_8&f

eature=related

(Often sexual in nature as demonstrated in the two clips you just watched!)

PARAPRAXES (SLIPS) AND HUMOR

HUMOR Can be a healthy release of tension and

bring psychological health, or…

Jokes that are sexual in nature or aggressive in nature are found funny because they release forbidden impulses – especially in children – think “potty humor”Some people that find these types of jokes

particularly funny as adults may be more likely to imitate the aggressive humor in real life (such as name calling, fighting, sexism, racism…all isms)

HYPNOSIS Many agree with Freud that hypnosis is an

altered state of consciousness Critics state that the person is overly

compliant with suggestions, expects to be hypnotized, is motivated to comply, is really in a relaxed state, and feels happy to comply

Hypnotic responsiveness is individual. Some people are “highly” hypnotizable, others are not. People who have high degrees of concentration may be more likely to be hypnotized (for example, people who do not hear their name called when they are reading)