Exam 2 Flashcards
Freud’s Model of the Mind?
Mental illness can be caused by an imbalance, when the ego is unable to manage an overly strong id or superego
What do we do when content is too uncomfortable or too disruptive?
Store it in the unconscious
What happens when the disruptive unconscious content begins to surface?
Use defense mechanisms to keep it in place
When do we use defense mechanisms?
When we have conflicting thoughts, feelings, or urges to manage competing motivations and feel good about the compromise
Are we usually conscious or aware of when we use defense mechanisms?
No
What can metal illness be caused by?
Excessive reliance on defense mechanisms in general or excessive reliance on a narrow set of them
Insight produces what?
Change
Techniques?
Free association, dream interpretation
Therapist - Patient Relationship?
Therapist as a blank slate , transference and counter-transference
Therapy as a life-long project?
Always more insight to be gained, several sessions a week forever
Whats the difference between psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theories?
Psychodynamic theory is a contemporary version of psychoanalytic theory
Core features of psychodynamic theory?
Emotional experiences, avoidance of distressing thoughts and feelings, recurring themes and patterns, past experiences, interpersonal relationships, therapy relationship, fantasy life
Critiques of psychodynamic theory?
Assumes therapists can be “blank slates”, overlooks nuances in meaning and language, prioritizes internal experience over external reality, neglects discussion of social privilege/oppression
Are therapists a blank slate?
No!
Inter-subjectivity?
Therapy is a shared experience between therapist and patient who both bring their own material into the room
