Psychoanalytic Approaches

Themes:

1. determinism

2. conflict

3. unconscious

4. psychoanalytic interpretation

“life is not easy!” - Freud

Freud’s approach

• Case study• Psychoanalysis• Free association• Energy systems

Freud’s assumptions

1. Development is driven by biology

2. Early experiences engender adult personality

3. Early social life is important

4. Pleasure is sexual from the get go

Emphasis on process of personality

• Energy system– Libido– thanatos

• Instincts/drives

• Anxiety

• Defense mechanisms– Denial– Repression

Freud’s Model of the Mind

Topographical model of the mind

1. Conscious

2. Preconscious

3. Unconscious– Primary process

thinking– Secondary process

thinking

Freud’s structure continued

Structural Model of the Mind

• Id• Ego• Superego

Growth and Development of Personality

Five Stages

1. oral

2. Anal

3. Phallic

4. Latent

5. genital

Oral Stage

• Oral stimulation

• Crucial task is weaning

• Oral receptive character

Anal Stage

• Bowel movements—holding and expelling

• Crucial task is toilet training

• Anal character – obsessive, rigid, overly perfectionistic

Phallic Stage

• Genitals – masturbation

• Oedipal complex

• Phallic character– Male– female

• Latent Stage

• Genital Stage

Thought Question

It has been said that psychanalytic theory suffers from a number of cultural biases due to the limitation in kinds of patients seen and the Victorian era from which the concepts were originally derived. Which concepts or parts of the theory would be particular targets for arguments of cultural bias?

Assessment

Projective techniques

• ambiguous stimuli

• Not told purpose

• Subjective

e.g. Rorschach

Behavior Change

1. Free association

2. Dream analysis• Manifest content• Latent content• Symbols

3. Insight