Ch3 Psychoanalytic Theory Flashcards
Anna O (the famous patient) Led Freud to popularize the “talking cure” or the…
Free flowing catharsis of symptoms and their possible origins
psychoanalytic theory is based on the concept that…
Individuals are unaware of the many factors that cause their maladaptive behaviors and discomforting emotions
Psychoanalytic treatment is…
highly individualized and seeks to show how early childhood experiences have impacted the formative aspects of our personality development
the techniques and strategies in this approach are used
to illustrate to the client how unconscious thoughts and defenses formed early in life affect behavior patterns, relationships and overall mental health
The general goals of psychodynamic Counseling
- client self-awareness
- client understanding of the influence of the past on present behavior
- correction of the clients distortions is often the focus of therapeutic treatment
from the human nature: developmental perspective Psychoanalytic theory suggests
that behavior is largely determined by irrational forces, unconscious motivations, and biological or instinctual drives
According to human nature in psychoanalytic theory humans are conceptualized largely in terms of
biology and maladaptive behaviors are symptomatic of a subconscious response to social interactions which the mind interprets as unsafe, thereby threatening the stability of the human personality structure
what are the structures within the interactive system constituting human personality (psychoanalytic theory)
The id-
the instinctual and biological drives of the psyche
The superego-
the critical moralizing function
The ego-
the organized, realistic part that mediates and seeks a balance between the id and the superego
the id
- the unorganized part of the personality structure containing basic drives.
- the only component of personality present from birth
- the source of all psychic energy and the primary component of personality
- completely unconscious
- functions on the pleasure principle
the pleasure principle
emphasizes wants, desires and instant self-gratification, and if not satisfied immediately, the result is a state of anxiety or tension
The superego (the last part of personality to develop)
works to suppress the urges of the id and strives for morality regardless of contextual circumstances
- emerges around age 5
- present in the conscience, preconscious and unconscious
the two parts of the superego
ego-ideal-
includes the rules and standards for good behaviors that are approved by authority figures
conscience-
includes information about things that are viewed as bad by parents and society
the ego functions on the
reality principle
the reality principle
strives to satisfy the ids desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways
Psychosexual development
stages: oral, anal, phallic, latent, genital
- personality develops through a series of childhood stages during which the pleasure seeking energies of the id become focused on certain erogenous areas
- psychosexual energy is suggested to be the driving force behind behavior (libido)
- the result of successful completion of psychosexual stages is a healthy personality
- if needs are not met and issues are not resolved in stages the individual will become fixated until conflict is resolved
life instincts
deal with basic survival, pleasure, and reproduction
they sustain life
they include thirst, hunger, and pain avoidance
death instincts
emerge as self destructive behavior, self harm and self sabotage. death instincts are often expressed as aggression or violence and are tempered by the life instincts
Defense Mechanisms
- a function of the ego striving to protect from experiencing anxiety or guilt caused by discord between the id and superego
- a coping strategy that shields the mind from feelings or thoughts that are interpreted as inappropriate, unwanted, or uncomfortable
denial, repression, reaction formation, projection, displacement, rationalization, sublimation, regression, compensation, compartmentalization, and intellectualization
denial
The refusal to accept reality and to act as if a painful event, thought, or feeling did not exist
repression
The blocking of unacceptable impulses from consciousness.
reaction formation
The converting of wishes or impulses that are perceived to be dangerous into their opposites.
projection
The attribution of one’s undesired impulses onto another.
displacement
The redirecting of thoughts feelings and impulses from an object that gives rise to anxiety to a safer, more acceptable one.
rationalization
The cognitive reframing of one’s perceptions to protect the ego in the face of changing realities.
sublimation
The channeling of unacceptable impulses into more acceptable outlets.
regression
The reversion to an earlier stage of development in the face of unacceptable impulses.
compensation
A process of psychologically counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other areas.
compartmentalization
A process of separating parts of the self from awareness of other parts and behaving as if one had separate sets of values.
intellectualization
The use of a cognitive approach without the attendant emotions to suppress and attempt to gain mastery over the perceived disorderly and potentially overwhelming impulses.
when defense mechanisms fail to protect an individual
the individual will unconsciously experience an overwhelming sense of emotional discord and will most likely seek counseling
transference and countertransference
the process of attributing ones feelings of one person onto another
