Lecture 2: Psychological Development and Principles of Psychotherapy Flashcards
Define psychodynamics.
Collective aggregate of conscious and unconscious factors that influence personality, behavior and attitudes.
Also used to refer to the clinical approach/theory that sees personality as a result of these factors.
Define psychoanalysis.
Method of treating mental and emotional disorders based around revealing and investigating the role of unconscious and conscious psychological processes.
Define psychotherapy.
Use of verbal methods to influence another person’s mental and emotional state.
What did Freud describe our internal discussion as being?
Outside of our awareness
What are the 4 components of the Freudian theory?
Id
Ego
Superego
Ego Defense
What is the Id?
The greedy inner child.
Primal instincts, basic nature, desires.
Freud thinks most id instincts are sexual since it is critical to survival.
What is the superego?
The quest for perfection, conscience.
The image of what we WANT to be.
Philosophical and moral ideals.
What did Freud think superegos are developed from?
Parental standards
What is the ego?
Grown-up self
Reason, self-control, compromise, balance.
What are the 3 levels of consciousness Freud describes? Where does most thinking happen between the Id, Ego, and Superego?
Conscious
Preconscious
Unconscious
Freud thinks most thinking happens unconsciously.
How can we test psychodynamic theory to see if it is conscious or unconscious?
Using subliminal messages to see how behavior is influenced
What is the ego defense mechanism? What are the two kinds?
It refers to the strategies that reduce anxiety from our thoughts and desires. It is often when our Id clashes with our Superego.
It has a mature (does not compromise) or a primitive (irrational, immature, dysfunctional)
What are some common ego defense mechanisms? (11)
Regression
Denial
Projection
Intellectualization
Repression
Displacement
Rationalization
Dissociation
Reaction Formation
Suppression
Sublimation
Define regression.
Retreating to an earlier stage of development.
Define denial.
Behaving as though things are different than they really are.
Severe denial can border on DELUSION.
Define projection.
Attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings to another person.
Can be used as an excuse for one’s own feelings.
Define intellectualization.
Focusing on minor, often unimportant details of a situation rather than addressing the main, central conflict.
Define repression.
Placing disagreeable or unacceptable thoughts in the subconscious mind rather than dealing with them.
Define displacement.
Expressing feelings or impulses toward one person or group onto another person, group or object that is less threatening.
Define rationalization.
Reinterpreting an event by cognitively distorting the facts.
Making excuses or “lying to ourselves”.
Define dissociation.
Disconnecting from a stressful situation by pursuing an alternative reality.
May be associated with a “fantasy world”, daydreaming, dissociative d/o.
Define reaction formation.
Person goes beyond denial; acts opposite to what they think or feel.
May occur if a person feels two conflicting emotions (e.g. love and hate) close together.
Define suppression.
Similar to repression, but thoughts are put into subconscious INTENTIONALLY and usually are dealt with at a future date.
Considered a MATURE and EFFECTIVE defense.
Define sublimation.
Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially appropriate activities, allowing one to use the energy in better ways.
Considered a MATURE and EFFECTIVE defense.
What are the two mature/effective ego defense mechanisms?
Suppression and Sublimation.
What are the other major psych theories in psychodynamics?
Ego theory
Object Relations Theory
Self Theory
What is ego theory?
An adaptation of Freudian theory to reflect the ego’s great range of actions.
Ego has multiple functions BEYOND regulating impulses from the id and input from the superego.
What is ego theory focused on?
Strengthening the ego so it can cope with pressure better from the id, superego, and outside sources.
What is included in the expanded range of ego functions?
Reality testing
Impulse control
Affect regulation
Judgement
Synthetic functioning
Defense Mechanisms
Define reality testing.
Being able to distinguish what is happening in one’s own mind from what is going on in the outside world.
Define impulse control.
Managing impulses without immediate discharge through behavior or symptoms.
Define affect regulation.
Modulating feelings without being overwhelmed.
Define judgement in ego psychology.
Acting responsibly.
Identifying potential courses of actions, anticipating and evaluating consequences, and deciding on a course of action.
Define synthetic functioning.
Organizing and unifying other functions with the personality.