Psychoanalysis (Historical & Current) Flashcards
two basic human motivations for behavior
(1) seek pleasure
(2) avoid pain
freudian theory to explain sexual hysteria
oedpal / electra complex
hysteria
paralysis of the improper functioning of certain parts of the body, wild emotionalism, frenzy. freud believed it was a strictly female disorder
hystero
medical term meaning related to the womb, uterine system, and hysterectomies
interpretation of dreams
propsed dreams & mental health symptoms have similar structure. both arise as product of 2 conflicting forces of the mind: (1) unconscious childhood sexual wishes seeking discharge; and (2) the repressive activity of the rest of the mind
psychosis
conflict btwn the libidinal energies in the self in opposition to the libidinal energies of objects in the external world
dual instinct theory
2 types of drives or insticts: libido and aggression drived from broader principles of love (eros) and our instinct towards death and self-destruction (thanatos)
structural theory
conflict may operate on a conscious and/or unconscious level, and grouped various mental functions according to the role they played in the world
ego
orientates the individual toward the external world and mediates between it and the inner world
id
sum of the instinctual pressures of the sexual and aggressive instincts
superego
residue of early morality training and important childhood identifications and idealized aspirations
3 Parts of Individual Psychological Structure
id, ego, superego. formed by drive to seek pleasure and avoid pain
therapeutic goal of psychoanalysis
bring the unconscious into the conscious and to teach people to make rational choices rather than play out automatic responses
ego defense mechanisms
used by the ego to reduce internal tension. they are unconscious and automatic, constantly in use, not necessarily unhealthy, can help facilitate adjustment to reality. they become unhealthy when the distort reality
4 categories of ego defense mechanisms:
- prevent expression of an impulse.
- escape expression of an impulse.
- disguise expression of an impulse
- modify expression of an impulse
Impulse Prevention
Holds impulse in. REPRESSION. unconscious banning from memory forbidden feelings or impulses. not acknowledged. repression is a primary source of psychosomatic disorders.
Impulse Escape
Does not solve or deal w/ impulse.
Denial - consciously reject impulse by denying its existence - not admitting reality of thoughts or feelings
Fantasy - creates private/safe world to satisfy our need.
Regression: return to childhood behavior to deal w/ impulse.
Isolation - sticking head in sand. recognize danger but isolate self from it
Impulse Disguise
Pretty it up.
Displacement - project onto safer target (eg, yell at cat instead of boss.
Identification - take on others’ positive attributes and make them ours.
projection: put our undesirable attributes on others.
rationalization: substitution of “good” reasons for “bad” reasons for saying or doing something
Impulse Modification
Healthiest of the unhealthy defense mechanisms.
Sublimation: expressing impulse in socially acceptable way (e.g. sports instead of fist fight).
Compensation: make up for deficiency by being proficient in another area.
Reaction formation: express opposite of original impulse. (eg, become a vice crusader if tempted by kinky sex)
Stages of Instinctual Life
Freud was 1st to develop life stages. review concept carefully in text
the unconscious
contains the greatest amount of psychological energy, most of which is unknown to the individual
Id
personal power source. operates on “pleasure principle” based on primitive psychosexual drives inherited at birth. demands immediate and direct gratification. not in touch w/ reality. illogical. can simultaneously entertain conflicting ideas.
Id, ctd
biological deprivation: fuels the person
tension: nondirective libidinal energies
psychosexual drives: hunger, thirst, gasping for air, etc
dreaming and fantasy: primary process of trying to meet the need
Ego
rational thought: planning to meet demands of id w/in constraints of reality. mediates btwn id and reality-based boundaries, and the judging, restricting force of the superego
Superego
Internal representation of social values as interpreted by one’s parents & authority figures = morality. operates on principle of perfection (right or wrong). ego ideal (that which is morally good) conscience (that which is morally bad). does not converse with id
First part of personality to give way under stress (results in anarchy)
superego
What happens when ego gives up?
psychosis
What happens when Id gives up?
under extreme distress, the Id can give up and death occures, either via unintentional death through reckless behaviors and/or suicide.
Insight
occurs when unconscious material is brought to consciousness and viewed by one part of the ego while the more rational part watches. it is a real intellectual and emotional understanding about unresolved issues.
Role of Insight
reeducates ego so it can apply secondary process to problems that were formerly approached impulsively and self destructively, with an excess of primary process thinking
task of psychoanalytic theory
to reconstruct client’s entire personality, strengthening ego so it may assume its proper role of leadership
origin of neurosis
Childhood. regression is necessary
dream interpretation
usually involves regression to the wishes of infantile and childhood sexuality
Main Challenge
to control aggressive and sexual drivies
libido
involves all life instincts, encluding eros, thanatos, and agression
Opening Phase of Therapy
Gather info to determine severity of problem. Gaining of info, but not through formal history. patient prioritizes issues.
free association
the goal of free association is to minimize the effects of conscious external stimuli, and internal physical stimuli, while emphasizing those behaviors that come from unconscious inter-psychic conflicts
resistance
free association is difficult bc the client consciously wants to be cured but the unconscious is drive to repress threatening material, get out of therapy, remain ill
transference
during periods of free association, client can relive childhood conflicts in analytic situation. behaviors and emotions are unconsciously brought into present and placed on analyst rather than people in the past
interpretation
free association distorted by resistances. therapist must deduce true meaning of patient’s words and actions. interpretation must be held until the right moment – when the client is very close to the repressed material and the ego defenses are ready to crumble
working through
learning about an uncsonscious conflict, resistance, or self-defeating behavior not enough to produce change. insights must be practiced in order to successfully integrate them into a new lifestyle
counter transference
analysts unconscious tendency to displace emotions and behaviors from other important people onto the patient. to avoid this, psychoanalysts must go through extensive analysis themselves
resolution of transference
resolution is the terminal phase of treatment. when client and analyst agree that the major goals of analysis are met and transference is well understood, termination date is set. analyst attempts to resolve patient’s unconscious neurotic attachment to him. fantasies of what life will be like after analysis need to be fully analyzed
work
no one would choose to work if all his or her pleasure needs were met
religion
collective neurosis – an illusion that tries to master the real world w/ fantasized wish fulfillments. also a poor foundation on which to base social morality. social morality would be better not from commandments, but from common conscience
education
primary ed should teach children to control illicit instincts and get along w/ each other
social psychology
freud rejects autonomous human social instinct. people follow leaders by identifying w/ leader and introjecting leader’s standards in place of their own superego – satisfying childhood erotic longings for protection
female sexuality
females inferior/have defective sexual organs, weaker super egos, greater disposition to neurosis. he believed clitoral orgasm was inferior to vaginal orgasm bc it was a pre-genital form of orgasm
conversion
the energy of a sexual wish the ego was unable to repress may be transformed into paralysis, numbness, etc
libido
includes the energy of all life instincts
death instincts
account for aggressive drive. at times, people manifest through their behavior an unconscious wish to die or to hurt themselves or others
Anxiety
feeling of dread resulting from repressed feelings, memories, desires, experiences that emerge to the surface of awareness
3 types of anxiety
- reality anxiety - fear of danger from external world.
- neurotic anxiety - instincts will get out of hand and cause me to do something for which i will be punished.
- moral anxiety: fear of one’s own conscience
2 characteristics of ego defense mechanisms
- deny or distort reality
2. operate on an unconscious level
repression
negative thoughts and feelings excluded from awareness
denial
closing one’s eyes to existence of a threatening aspect of reality
reaction formation
actively expressing opposite impulse when confronted w/ threatening impulse
projection
attributing to other’s one’s own unacceptable desires and impulses
displacement
directing energy toward another object or person when the original object or person is inaccessible
rationalization
manufacturing “good” reasons to explain away a bruised ego
sublimation
diverting sexual or aggressive energy into other channels
regression
going back to an earlier phase of development when there were fewer demands
introjection
taking in and “swallowing” the values and standards of others
identification
taking in and “swallowing” the values and standards of others
identification
identifying w/ successful causes, organizations, or people in the hope you will be perceived as worthwhile
compensation
making perceived weaknesses or developing certain positive traits to make up for limitations
psychosexual stages of development
oral stage: inability to trust oneself and others, resulting in fear of loving
anal stage: deals w/ inability to recognize and express anger, leading to a lack of a sense of autonomy
phallic stage: inability to fully accept one’s sexuality and sexual feelings
id psychology (classical psychoanalysis)
instincts and intrapsychic conflicts are the basic factors ahping personality development
ego psychology (contemporary psychoanalysis)
(erikson). emphasizes striving of the ego for mastery and competence throughout human life span
ultimate goal of psychoanalytic treatment
increase adaptive functioning, which involves reudction of symptoms and resolution of conflicts. accomplished by making unconscious conscious and strenghtening the ego. particular attention given to client’s resistances
transference relationship
client projects onto analyst, cornerstone of psychoanalysis.
interpretation
a major function of interpretation is to accelerate process of uncovering unconscious material
Fundamental Rule
free association, during which clients say whatever comes to mind w/out self-censorship.
reeducation, reorientation, personality change
achieved my bringing unconscious to the conscious and implementing insight in life
