Dreaming Flashcards
What are freuds opinion on the conscious and unconscious
We have conscious thoughts that we know and can describe.
We have unconscious thoughts that we do not know about and cannot describe.
Our uncoils thoughts, wishes and desires guide a lot of our behaviour.
What percentage did Freud think our unconscious is of our thinking
90%
How does Freud describe the dreams
They have a manifest and a latent content. The latent content is what is hiding in the manifest content.
What is the manifest content
The story of the dream that the dreamer tells
What is the latent content of a dream
The underlying meaning of the dream - the hidden content.
What is dream work
What the mind is doing while dreaming
Name the 3 terms that Freud used to explain the purpose of dreams.
Condensation - when many thoughts from the unconscious are represented in the dream in one symbol.
Displacement - when something that is seen as unimportant in the dream is made central, to shift attention from what is important
Secondary elaboration - how the dreamer builds a story when telling what the dream is about - makes analysis hard.
How does Freud describe symbols in dreams
That they mean different things to different people as everyone’s unconscious is personal
What can falling in a dream be interpreted as
It’s the manifest content, the latent content is that they may feel like they’re loosing control
How did Freud analyse dreams
Through psychoanalysis. The analyst listens to a description of the dream and then the latent content can be uncovered by analysing the symbols in the manifest content.
How did psychoanalysis help mental health
It was used as therapy. Freud believed that once their unconscious desires have been revealed, they’ll be able to deal with them and they’ll no longer have the issue.
What 3 main methods does psychoanalysis use
Slips of the tongue - when someone uses the wrong word for something. Freud uses it to uncover unconscious desires.
Free association- patient is encouraged to express a flow if consciousness, helps to uncover links which can then be interpreted.
Dean analysis- analysing dreams and uncovering symbols
Why does psychoanalysis take a long time
Many dreams have to be related and many sessions undergone before the analyst can start to suggest what the dream might symbolise.
What is qualitative data
Data involving stories or attitudes
What does it mean if something is valid
They are about real life situations, behaviours and feelings
What does subjective mean
When the researcher is affecting the information that is gathered, perhaps by their interpretation
What does objective mean
When the researchers views do not affect the information that is gathered
Name two strengths of freuds theory
He gathered in depth and detailed information about individuals. He collected qualitative data.
He used unique methods to find data that was difficult to access
Name two weaknesses for freuds theory
He interpreted his findings so they might be subjective.
His sample was biased, he mainly used middle class Viennese women, results weren’t generalisable
What is a neuron
A cell in the body that sends information using both electrical and chemical processes
Name and label the different parts of a neuron
Cell body
Dendrites
terminal branches of axon
Axon
What is the job of the axon and dendrites
Axon - passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons. A neural impulse travels down it.
Dendrites - recurve messages from other cells
How are brain messages sent using neurons
An electrical impulse is triggered from the cell of one neuron which travels down the axon to the end, a neurotransmitter is released found in the terminal branches. The neuro transmitter goes into the synaptic gap where it could be lost or taken up by the dendrites of the next cell if the receptors are suitable. Neurotransmitter sets off an electrical signal and drops back into the synaptic gap. The change in chemical balance triggers an electrical impulse which travels down the axon and the cycle repeats
What is the process of a neurotransmitter passing one neuron across the synaptic gap and being picked up by the next neuron called.
A synaptic transmission
Explain the lock and key rule for receptors at a dendrite
Receptors at a dendrite will be a shape (lock) to take up only a certain neurotransmitter (key) and all other neurotransmitters will not be taken up.
What is a biological theory of dreaming
The action synthesis model
What is The action synthesis model
A model of dreaming proposed by Hobson and McCarley where the brain is active but no sensory information is coming into it. The brain puts the information it has together to make sense of it and this is the dream.
How often does REM sleep happen in a night
Around 4 or 5 times, can be measured by an EEG
What is REM sleep
When there is rapid eye movement
What is sensory blockade
During REM sleep, any incoming information from the senses is blocked.
What is movement inhibition
During REM sleep, physical movements are blocked so the body is paralysed.
Explain the activation part of the activation-synthesis theory
During REM sleep the neurons in the brain are activated because there are random impulses that give information as if it were the senses. Know as random activation.
Explain the synthesis part of the activation-synthesis theory
The brain tries to make sense of the random activation of neurons, it is synthesising the information to make it into a story.
Name two strengths of Hobson and McCarleys theory
Based on scientific evidence unlike freuds theory, eg. Lab experiments can be conducted.
Can account for random nature of dreams.
Name two weaknesses of hobson and mccarleys theory of dreams
Lucid dreamers contradict the idea that dreams are random, as the dreamer can control the content in the dream.
Young children have few dreams but have REM sleep, meaning that dreams aren’t simply linked to REM sleep.
Compare the methodology for freuds theory and Hobson and McCarleys theory
F- used dream analysis
H&M- used brain scanning
F- used free association and slips of the tongue
H&M- used EEG testing
Hobson and McCarleys theory is more objective than Freuds because his methodology is more subjective.
Compare the nature and nurture debate
Na- biology
Nu- environment
Na- genes,hormones and brain structures
Nu- upbringing and parents influences
Na- Hobson and McCarleys theory
Nu- freuds theory
Compare the objectivity of freuds theory and Hobson and McCarleys theory
F- subjective as meaning needs interpreting
H&M - objective as it uses scientific measures such as experiments
Compare the credibility of freuds theory and Hobson and McCarleys theory
F- lacks credibility because it lacks scientific methods
H&M - credible because of scientific methods
Compare the research methods of freuds theory and Hobson and McCarleys theory
F- uses case studies and dream analysis
H&M - used scanning and experiments
Compare the theory that dreams are meaningful for freuds theory and Hobson and McCarleys theory
F- dreams have meanings its story giving symbols as clues to unconscious wishes
H&M - dreams have no meaning. They are random
Compare the nature/nurture debate of freuds theory and Hobson and McCarleys theory
F- both nature and nurture, unconscious = nature, its contents = nurture
H&M - nature. dreaming is part of the way the brain and body works.
What is a case study
A research method for studying an individual or small group and gathering in depth and detailed information using different means.
Name two research methods used in case studies
Questionnaires
Experiments
Do case studies use hypothesis’ or aims and why
Aims, because a case study looks for detailed information about a person meaning a hypothesis wouldn’t be suitable.
What is the aim of a case study
A statement of what the study is being carried out to find.
What is quantitative data
Data that involves numbers or statistics
What types of data do case studies collect
Both qualitative data and quantitative data
Name 2 weaknesses of case studies
Case studies tend to be based on one person from one location. Therefore the data collected in case studies are not necessarily true of other situations or people.
Case studies are said to be subjective because the researcher is deploy involved in the data collection, the qualitative gathered have to be interpreted by the researcher.
Name two strengths of case studies
They gather valid data as they are often about one individual and the information comes directly from that one person.
They gather details that are hard to find in any other way
Give some background knowledge of little hans
Han’s parents were supporters of freuds ideas and agreed to log their sons development and sent it to Freud. Little hans sent letters to Freud, freud only met hans once or twice
What was han’s phobia
He was afraid of horses which made him unable to leave his house.
What was the Oedipus complex and how did Freud link this to little hans
The idea that a boy from 4 years will have unconscious feelings for his mother and want his father out of the way, though then fears his father and feels guilty. He linked this to Hans when he had a dream where he thought he had no mummy.
What stage dos Freud think little hans was in
The Phallic stage, the third stage of development where sexual interest is focused on the genital area for both boys and girls. For boys their sexual transferred onto their mother.
How would a young boy try and resolve his feelings in the phallic stage
A boy would identify with their father and ‘become’ his father
What was little hans dream about a giraffe
He dreamt about two giraffes, a big one and a crumpled one. The big giraffe shouted out because little hans took the crumpled one away from it. The big giraffe stopped calling out and little hans says that he sat in the crumpled giraffe.
How did Freud interpret little hans dream about giraffes
The big giraffe was a symbol for a penis and the crumpled giraffes was little hans mother. When the big giraffe shouted it showed that little hans wanted to take his mother away from his father.
Name two strengths of dream analysis as a research method
It can access hard to reach information buried in the unconscious.
It is usually accepted by the client, helping them to be ‘cured’.
Name two weaknesses of dream analysis as a research method
There may be ethical problems as the interpretation can be wrong which could lead to false memories.
It involves interpretation that is subjective.
What is false memory
Any memory that is not true and can be given by someone else ‘remembering’ an event and then telling another person who then remembers it as true
What is privacy as an ethical issue in an experiment.
About making sure that the identity of the participant is kept a secret. The participant has a right to have their results kept private.
What is confidentiality as an ethical issue in an experiment.
Refers to the participants name being withheld and their identity being kept secret.
What is the aim of psychoanalysis
To uncover unconscious wishes and desires to find the reasons for the patients problems, which will help solve them.
How psychoanalysists work with their patients.
They listen and observe focusing on the emotions the patient shows. They look at both verbal and non-verbal information and record information from each session carefully. With that information they help the person to understand their emotions.
What does ‘making the unconscious conscious’ aim to do
Release underlying issues and freeing the person of the behaviour causing the problem.
How often does a client normal undergo analysis
4 times a week, which each session lasting around an hour
How much does treatment tend to cost
£50
What happens during dream analysis
The client describes and talks about their dream, while the analyst thinks about the manifest content and then draws out symbols to uncover the latent content.
What other information can the psychoanalyst use in dream analysis
Information from free association, adding details to the dream analysis in order to help the client.
For a psychoanalyst dream analysis is not the main focus, what is
Transference and counter transference, as they reveal things about the client just as other methods do
What is transference
It describes the way a client will transfer their emotions -love, hate, anger- onto the analyst
What is Counter transference
The word used for the way the analyst is likely to transfer their own feelings back into the client.
Why is it a good thing the psychoanalyst recognises transference
It helps the analyst to find out what emotions are involved in any possible problems that the client has.
What skills are required to become a psychoanalyst
Need to be able to listen carefully and observe your clients as well as being interested.
Must be able to build strong relationships with clients.
Must be able to detach yourself for their problems.
What qualifications do you need to become a psychoanalyst
A degree, then undertake training that is approved by the international psychoanalytic association.
How long does training for a psychoanalyst take
4 years
What must the person training to become a psychoanalyst undergo
Psychoanalysis themselves for 4 or 5 50 min sessions a week.
What is the final part of the training to become a psychoanalyst
The psychoanalysis of two patients while being supervised by a qualified psychoanalysis where you see clients for 50 mins 4/5 days a week. Lasts for two years, analysis of 2nd patient starts in third year.
What is rem sleep behaviour disorder v
Violent movements during rem sleep occurring because the muscle paralysis is not activated.
What has research shown that we experience without rem sleep for a prolonged period of time
Disorientation
Memory difficulties
Illusions
Paranoia
What’s the difference between psychological problems and physiological problems
Psychological problems are to do with brain and mind.
Physiological problems are to do with the body.
Give one example of a physiological sleep problem
Snoring
Describe the difference between primary and secondary sleep disorders
P - not related to any other problem but are problems in themselves.
S - stem from another problem, eg. Pain or jet lag
What are sleep disorder clinic involved with
The assessment and diagnosis of sleep problems.
Name some methods that can treat sleeping disorders
CBT - encourages individual to look at their thinking and change the way they behave.
Hypnotherapy - help clients relax in case of insomnia and parasomnias.
What is insomnia
Someone cannot go to sleep or can’t stay asleep. Will be diagnosed if it affects someone’s daily activities or life. Often treated with prescribed drugs
What is hypersomnia
Sleep disorder where people feel very sleepy at all times of the day. Can be caused by narcolepsy or not sleeping well at night.
What is narcolepsy
Sleep disorder which means people can suddenly have attacks of sleep in the day. It is a brain disorder.
What is a circadian rhythm disorder
Disorder of the sleep wake cycle. Causes problems with body clock. Problems can occur when people have changing shifts at work. Can be treated by using bright lights at certain times to reset the body clock.
What are parasomnias
Occurs when someone is asleep, eg nightmares, sleep walking and sleep terrors. More common in children and makes.
