Psychoanalysis Flashcards
Hysteria
Included various unexplained symptoms, including numbness, paralysis and tremors.
Psychic determinism
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.
Pleasure principle
An instinctive drive toward pleasure; represents hedonistic impulses and the desire for immediate gratification. (id)
Reality principle
The ego operates on the reality principle, the realities associated with the external world.
Unconscious
The relatively large space where mental impulses outside of awareness are jostling one another
Defense mechanisms
Automatic, unconscious, ward off unacceptable impulses and distort reality.
Transference and countertransference
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.
Neo-Freudian
Karen Horney started with some of Freud’s ideas but emphasized social and cultural factors.
Internal working model
A repetitive impulse-energy-relationship pattern that informs individuals about what to expect and how to react to the world.
Free association
The basic rule of psychoanalysis; “say whatever comes to mind”
Fixation
A fixation or complex is an unresolved unconscious conflict (dysfunctional internal working model)
Dream interpretation
Used by Freud to explain to clients the psychological meaning of their dream symbols
Freud
Trained as an MD. Started with a private practice in neurology that morphed into psychiatry. Hypnosis guided his initial therapeutic work.
Libido
Psychic energy that powers and energizes the human mind (derived from eros and thanatos)
Topographical approach
Three levels of the human mind: pre-conscious, conscious, sub-conscious
Developmental approach
Each step has a physical focus, psychological theme, and adult character type: oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital
Structural approach
3 parts of the human mind:
id- primary process thinking (irrational)
ego- secondary process thinking (rational)
superego- moral aspect of the mind
Essence of mental health to Freud
“ability to love and to work”
Freudian conception of psychopathology
Arises from early childhood experiences
Typically rooted in over or under gratification within a given developmental stage
Dysfunctional experiences reside within the unconscious
Freudian idea of how to create positive change
- Make the unconscious conscious through hypnosis, dream analysis, free association, “slips”
- Generate insight
- Time
- Emotional bond between therapist and client
- Transference
Neo-Freudian departures from Freud
- importance of sex de-emphasized
- de-emphasis on unconscious; greater emphasis on conscious
- de-emphasis on instinctual drives; greater emphasis on interpersonal relations
Limitations of psychoanalysis
- highly complex theory of personality development
- highly construct-laden
- highly expensive
- testability
- cost-benefit analysis
- lack of sensitivity to BIPOC and women
Lasting contributions of Freudian analysis
- power of talking
- influence of early childhood experiences
- notion that clients lack insight
- notion of defense mechanisms
- importance of therapeutic alliance and transference
From Freud’s perspective, what are the basic assumptions associated with psychoanalytic theory and/or therapy?
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)
Dynamic approach
Humans are motivated by opposing drives.
Libido energizes the human mind
“Follow the energy” to understand the workings of the human mind.
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?
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.
From a psychoanalytic perspective, what is the therapist’s role in the therapeutic process? What are the client’s role and/or expectations?
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.
How are Neo-Freudian approaches to psychoanalysis similar to Freud’s views? How do they differ?
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.
From a contemporary perspective, what are the benefits to psychoanalytic approaches to therapy?
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
