Chapter 7: Psychoanalysis Flashcards
who did Freud work with
- Charcot –> was doing work on using hypnosis as treatment for hysteria, and how hysteria could cause paralysis
- Charcot made the comment “it was always about the genitals” –> inspired Freud’s theory
describe the case of Anna O
- after death of father, had problems like headaches, paralyses, periods of overexcitement, etc.
- other symptoms of multiple personalities, hallucinations, etc.
- Breuer used hypnosis the reach causes of symptoms –> used catharsis method
describe the catharsis method
- symptoms were believed to be the result of pent-up emotions
- if the emotion was released, the symptoms would disappear
what led Freud to his theory of psychoanalysis
Breuer’s treatment of Anna O. with the catharsis method (although Breuer disagreed with Freud’s sexual take on it)
what were the three interdependent achievements by Freud
- a method
- a theory of the neuroses
- a theory of the normal mind
describe the id according to Freud
- present at birth
- life instincts (sexual) and death instincts (aggression)
- most primitive part of mind, most inaccessible
- no morality
- pleasure seeking energy (libido)
describe the ego according to Freud
- purpose is to help id satisfy its demands
- operates according to reality principle
- controls instincts (but doesn’t inhibit them)
describe the superego according to Freud
- develops through child’s experiences, parental teachings, etc.
- represents individual’s moral compass
- may act in direct opposition to the id
what were some symptoms of “hysteria”
- mostly in women
- hallucinations, headaches, paralysis, etc.
- sexual dysfunction
- neuroses
what were central to Freud’s theory of neuroses
anxiety, defence mechanisms and childhood sexuality
according to Freud when does anxiety develop
when the demands from any of the three factors of the mind overwhelm the ego
neurotic anxiety
results from concerns about the id
moral anxiety
experienced from violations of the restrictions imposed by the superego
objective anxiety
experienced by threats from the external world
describe Freud’s notion of defence mechanisms
- developed by ego to cope with anxieties
- operate at unconscious level
- e.g. repression, denial, rationalization, projection
rationalization
inventing new ways to think about disappointing or tragic events
projection
attributing negative qualities to others that are part of ourselves
describe the benefits and downfalls of defence mechanisms
- can temporarily help avoid or reduce anxiety
- psychic energy needed to keep anxiety repressed can eventually cause defence mechanisms to break down –> neuroses and psychoses result
seduction theory (Freud)
theory of the etiology of hysteria –> children were seduced by adults into sexual encounters (some argued this meant child abuse or rape, but Freud argued it was sexual fantasies not assault)
what were some of the techniques used by Freud in psychoanalysis
- free association –> listen to what is and is not being said when patient is asked to say whatever comes to mind
- dream analysis
what were the two “contents” examined in dream analysis
- manifest content –> dream as actually recalled
- latent content –> hidden information in the dream, the real meaning of the dream
according to Freud, what two processes aided a patient’s repression
- resistance –> refusing to reveal or think about certain material during therapy
- transference –> transferring feelings to the therapist (love, lust, anger)
describe the reception of Freud’s theories in America
- Americans were prudish with regard to sexual matters
- however, it eclipsed experimental psychology
- influenced American medical community
describe some assessment tools in clinical psychology that were influenced by psychoanalysis
projective tests like the Rorschach Inkblot Test and Thematic Apperception Test
what are some common criticisms of Freud’s work
- based in anecdote and limited case studies
- not a falsifiable theory
- creation off too many concepts that explain opposite outcomes
what are some of the most important lasting contributions that Freud has made to the field of clinical psychology
- recognition of unconscious processes
- importance of early experiences in shaping later behaviours
- psychological disorders resulting from psychic (rather than somatic) causes
- defence mechanisms is coping with anxiety
- attention to matters of sexual behaviour
who were the three neo-Freudians who had the largest impact
- Carl Jung
- Alfred Adler
- Karen Horney
–> all believed Freud overemphasized sexuality in his theory
what were some of the differences between Adler and Freud’s views
- Adler also believed libido was the id’s energy force
- BUT did not see libido as principally sexual
- libido = general life force (which includes sex)
describe Adler’s “individual psychology”
- emphasized social (not biological) motives as the primary determinants of behaviour
- individuals seek superiority and a gain of mastery over their environment, striving for perfection
- seeking a significant life that mattered beyond the individual (i.e. through contributions to society)
- more about striving for future than controlling past
- recognized uniqueness of individuals and life style
describe Adler’s notion of life style
- individual’s life style is responsible for self-consistency in attitudes and behaviours and unity of personality
- develops in childhood
- operates at unconscious level
- defines individual in terms of thoughts, feelings and behaviours
- life styles are combination of behavioural and personality variables (e.g. activity level, social interest)
getting individual (Adler)
typology of life style where person is always taking but never giving anything back
ruling individual
typology of life style where person has high activity but little/no social interest
socially useful individual
typology of life style where person is high in activity and social interest
what research did Jung start off doing
schizophrenia research –> eventually did work defending Freud’s notion of neuroses
describe Jung’s analytic psychology
- divided unconscious into two parts: personal unconscious and collective unconscious
- personal = repressed wishes, experiences, motives
- collective = archetypes (behavioural tendencies of mystical nature)
personal unconscious (Jung)
repressed wishes, experiences, motives
collective unconscious (Jung)
archetypes (behavioural tendencies of mystical nature) –> predisposed people to behave in certain ways
what was the most important archetype according to Jung
- the self –> served to integrate conscious and unconscious personality components
- developed by process of individuation (person comes to accepts their archetypes into a unity of personality)
how did Jung see libido
- generalized life energy, not just sexual (same as what Adler thought)
- could be directed outward towards objects or other people
describe Jung’s notions of introversion/extraversion
- saw libido as generalized life energy
- libido could be directed towards other people in form of introversion or extraversion
- this influenced the use of these concepts on the MBTI
what psychological technique did Jung come up with
the word association technique
what did Karen Horney argue to critique Freud’s psychoanalysis
- presented on the castration complex (i.e. penis envy) in women, critiquing his demeaning views of women
- argued that males actually had womb envy –> this is why they denied women of opportunities to maintain the illusion of superiority
describe what Horney argued about anxiety
- opposed Freud’s notion that anxiety was a product of psychic demands on the ego
- emphasized social factors in life as the principle determinant
- basic/generalized anxiety (feelings of being lonely and helpless in a hostile world)
basic hostility (Horney)
outcome for individuals whose response to environmental factors was manifested in rage
according to Horney, how do individuals cope with anxiety and hostility
- behaviours that take them toward others, away from others, or take action against others
- propensities identify various personality types
- e.g. neurotic needs, need for personal admiration, need for perfection, need to exploit others, need for power
