Behav. Sci. Psychodynamics Flashcards
what is the fundamental hypotheses of psychoanalytic theory?
psychic determinism: every event/symptom has meaning
what are the psychosexual stages of development?
libido: life force (includes sexual, aggressive)
1. oral: birth - 1.5 years: sucking, dependent
continue having oral traits as an adult (food, gum, smoke, drink)
2. anal: 1.5-3 yrs: crawling, exploring, NO!, potty training, terrible twos
as an adult: neat, on time, correct, organized, careful with money, controlled
3. phallic phase: 3-5/6 yrs: curious about sex differences, close to parent of opposite sex
4. latency phase: 6-adolescent
5. genital phase: adolescent/adult on: capacity for true intimacy
fixation
extra investment of libido in one phase
regression
reversion to earlier phase under stress
ID
child - from birth
fun, gratification: “I want now!”
superego
parent: from 5 on conscience, rules, morals, values develops based on input from parents, teachers, religious authorities, political authorities, social norms, legal system "thou salt not" DISSOLVES IN ALCOHOL
ego
adult
growing, evolving “i”
purpose: deals with internal (Id and ego) and external reality
level I defense mechanisms
“psychotic” mechanisms: common in a healthy individual before age 5 and common in adult dreams and fantasy
- delusional projection
- psychotic denial
- distortion
delusional projection
frank delusions about external reality, usually of a persecutory type
- perception of one’s feelings in another person and then acting on it
- perception of other people or their feelings literally inside oneself
psychotic denial
denial of external reality (I am Jesus Christ, not John Williams)
distortion
grossly reshaping external reality to suit inner needs
- unrealistic megalomaniacal beliefs
- hallucinations, wishfulfilling delusions of delusional superiority or entitlement
level II defense mechanisms
immature mechanisms: common in healthy individuals 3-15 and personality disorders
- alter distress due to the threat of interpersonal intimacy or its loss - appear socially undesirable
1. projection, 2. somatization, acting out, splitting
projection
attributing one’s own unacknowledged feels to others
- severe prejudice, rejections of intimacy through unwarranted suspicion, marked hypervigilance to external danger
- paranoid personality
somatization
turning an unacceptable impulse or feeling eg from bereavement, loneliness, fear or anger into complaints of pain or somatic illness
-hypochondriac, psychosomatic disorders
acting out
direct expression of an unconscious wish or impulse in order to avoid being conscious of the affect that accompanies it
delinquent or impulsive act to avoid being aware of one’s feelings eg anger, sadness
-use of drugs, failure, perversion, self-inflicted injury to relieve tension
-antisocial personality disorder
splitting
seeing people and events as ALL good or ALL bad
- will quickly switch between these extreme positions
- borderline personality disorder
level III defense mechanisms
neurotic defenses: common in health individuals age 3-90
- alter private feelings or instinctual expression - seen as quirks or hang-ups
1. denial 2. displacement, 3. dissociation 4. identification 5. intellectualization 6. isolation of affect 7. rationalization 8. reaction formation 9. regression 10. undoing
denial
unable to accept (ignore, be unaware of, denies) intolerable facts about reality
-commonest defense in medical practice
displacement
redirection of feelings toward a relatively less cared for (less cathected) object than the person or situation arousing the feelings
- kicking chairs, road rage
- most phobias, many hysterical conversion reactions
dissociation
temporary but drastic modification of one’s character or of one’s sense of personal identity to avoid emotional distress
- acute reaction to trauma
- multiple personality disorder
identification
unconscious patterning of one’s behavior after a powerful, influential person
- adopting habits of parent/coach
- behaviors/parenting style “runs in families”
- stockholm syndrome
intellectualization
thinking about instinctual wishes in formal, affectively bland terms, and NOT acting on them - idea is in consciousness, but feeling is missing
- isolation, rationalization, ritual, undoing, restitution, magical thinking, busywork
- usually occurs in cluster (OCD)
isolation of affect
intellectual knowledge and understanding of a negative event without experiencing the feelings
rationalization
providing superficially reasonable accounts to explain away negative events, feelings, actions
reaction formation
behavior in a fashion diametrically opposed to an unacceptable instinctual impulse
- overtly caring for someone else when one wishes to be cared for oneself
- hating someone or something one really likes (siblings0
- loving a hated rival or unpleasant duty
regression
appearance of child-like behavior during period of stress
- medical crises
- when sibling is born
undoing
protecting against a negative past event by acceptable “corrective” behavior eg superstitious rituals or formal atonement or confession
level IV defense mechanisms
mature mechanisms: common in healthy individuals ages 12-90
- integrate reality, interpersonal relationships, and private feelings and appear as convenient virtues
1. altruism, 2. sublimation 3. anticipation 4. suppression 5. humor
altruism
vicarious but constructive and instinctually gratifying service to others
includes benign and constructive reaction formation, philanthropy, well-repaid service to others
how does altruism differ from projection and acting out?
provides real, not imaginary, benefit to others from reaction formation in that it leaves the person using the defense at least partly gratified
sublimation
indirect or attenuated expression of instincts without either adverse consequences or marked loss of pleasure
(sports, art, goals)
anticipation
realistic anticipation of or planning for future inner discomfort
- includes goal directed but overly careful planning or worrying
- premature but realistic effective anticipation of death or surgery or separation
suppression
the conscious or semiconscious decision to postpone paying attention to a conscious impulse or conflict
- looking for silver lining, minimizing acknowledged discomfort, employing a stiff upper lip
- deliberately postponing but not avoiding - “i will think about it tomorrow” and then do
humor
overt expression of ideas and feelings without individual discomfort or immobilization and without unpleasant effect on others
transference
patient’s unconscious “transfer” and replay of relationship with influential figures from the past (unrealistic expectations or mistrust)
countertransference
MD’s transference to the patient - positive or negative
