Psychoanalysis

Question 1

Hysteria

Answer 1

Included various unexplained symptoms, including numbness, paralysis and tremors.

Question 2

Psychic determinism

Answer 2

There’s an underlying psychological motivation or explanation for every emotion, thought, impulse and behavior. All behaviors serve a purpose for the individual; nothing is accidental.

Question 3

Pleasure principle

Answer 3

An instinctive drive toward pleasure; represents hedonistic impulses and the desire for immediate gratification. (id)

Question 4

Reality principle

Answer 4

The ego operates on the reality principle, the realities associated with the external world.

Question 5

Unconscious

Answer 5

The relatively large space where mental impulses outside of awareness are jostling one another

Question 6

Defense mechanisms

Answer 6

Automatic, unconscious, ward off unacceptable impulses and distort reality.

Question 7

Transference and countertransference

Answer 7

The client’s experience of their therapist that is shaped by the client’s own psychological structures and past and involves displacement, onto the therapist, of feelings, attitudes and behaviors belonging rightfully in earlier significant relationships. Countertransference: any and all reactions that therapists have toward clients.

Question 8

Neo-Freudian

Answer 8

Karen Horney started with some of Freud’s ideas but emphasized social and cultural factors.

Question 9

Internal working model

Answer 9

A repetitive impulse-energy-relationship pattern that informs individuals about what to expect and how to react to the world.

Question 10

Free association

Answer 10

The basic rule of psychoanalysis; “say whatever comes to mind”

Question 11

Fixation

Answer 11

A fixation or complex is an unresolved unconscious conflict (dysfunctional internal working model)

Question 12

Dream interpretation

Answer 12

Used by Freud to explain to clients the psychological meaning of their dream symbols

Question 13

Freud

Answer 13

Trained as an MD. Started with a private practice in neurology that morphed into psychiatry. Hypnosis guided his initial therapeutic work.

Question 14

Libido

Answer 14

Psychic energy that powers and energizes the human mind (derived from eros and thanatos)

Question 15

Topographical approach

Answer 15

Three levels of the human mind: pre-conscious, conscious, sub-conscious

Question 16

Developmental approach

Answer 16

Each step has a physical focus, psychological theme, and adult character type: oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital

Question 17

Structural approach

Answer 17

3 parts of the human mind:
id- primary process thinking (irrational)
ego- secondary process thinking (rational)
superego- moral aspect of the mind

Question 18

Essence of mental health to Freud

Answer 18

“ability to love and to work”

Question 19

Freudian conception of psychopathology

Answer 19

Arises from early childhood experiences
Typically rooted in over or under gratification within a given developmental stage
Dysfunctional experiences reside within the unconscious

Question 20

Freudian idea of how to create positive change

Answer 20

• Make the unconscious conscious through hypnosis, dream analysis, free association, “slips”
• Generate insight
• Time
• Emotional bond between therapist and client
• Transference

Question 21

Neo-Freudian departures from Freud

Answer 21

• importance of sex de-emphasized
• de-emphasis on unconscious; greater emphasis on conscious
• de-emphasis on instinctual drives; greater emphasis on interpersonal relations

Question 22

Limitations of psychoanalysis

Answer 22

• highly complex theory of personality development
• highly construct-laden
• highly expensive
• testability
• cost-benefit analysis
• lack of sensitivity to BIPOC and women

Question 23

Lasting contributions of Freudian analysis

Answer 23

• power of talking
• influence of early childhood experiences
• notion that clients lack insight
• notion of defense mechanisms
• importance of therapeutic alliance and transference

Question 24

From Freud’s perspective, what are the basic assumptions associated with psychoanalytic theory and/or therapy?

Answer 24

Psychic determinism- all behaviors serve a purpose for the individual
Mental motivational causes for behavior occur outside conscious awareness
The mind requires mental/psychic energy to operate (libido)

Question 25

Dynamic approach

Answer 25

Humans are motivated by opposing drives.
Libido energizes the human mind
“Follow the energy” to understand the workings of the human mind.

Question 26

What are some of the notable historical and/or cultural contexts that were important in shaping Freud’s views about dysfunction and/or mental illness?

Answer 26

Freud lived in Vienna, a sexually repressed society, which influenced his focus on repressed sexual drives and his seduction hypothesis (which he later recanted). Lack of women’s voices.

Question 27

From a psychoanalytic perspective, what is the therapist’s role in the therapeutic process? What are the client’s role and/or expectations?

Answer 27

The therapist’s role is to make room for the client to say “whatever comes to mind” (free association) and with the right timing, help interpret the meaning of the client’s experiences. Therapist is a blank slate and listens for unconscious conflicts and motivations that underlie repetitive, maladaptive patterns of behavior. The therapist uses triangles of insight in the process of interpretation. The client’s role is to speak freely and expect to delve into their past some to solve current issues. A working alliance between client and therapist is key.

Question 28

How are Neo-Freudian approaches to psychoanalysis similar to Freud’s views? How do they differ?

Answer 28

Neo-Freudian ideas (such as Karen Horney’s) emphasize social and cultural factors. Neo-Freudian approaches may be more time-limited, relational, or attachment-informed. They are similar to Freud’s views in that they focus on the unconscious and the past.

Question 29

From a contemporary perspective, what are the benefits to psychoanalytic approaches to therapy?

Answer 29

Psychoanalysis has proven effective in treatment, particularly of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance disorders, and borderline personality disorder.
“The talking cure” - emotional catharsis
Therapeutic alliance/transference