Psychodynamic Therapy Flashcards
What is the therapy of the psychodynamic approach?
Dream Analysis
What are the 4 components of dream analysis?
Dreams as wish fulfillment
Symbolic nature of dreams
Dreamwork
Role of the therapist
Explain ‘Dreams as wish fulfillment’ as a component of dream analysis.
Dreams act as the unconscious fulfilment of wishes and desires that could not be satisfied in the conscious mind and protects the sleeper whilst allowing expression of buried urges e.g. violent desires etc.
Explain ‘Symbolic nature of dreams’ as a component of dream analysis.
Dreams allow the fulfilment of unconscious desires but the content is often expressed symbolically to protect the sleeper from potential stress to the conscious mind through changing manifest content to latent content
What is manifest and latent content of dream analysis?
Manifest - what can be recalled from the dream
Latent - hidden meaning of the content of the dream
Explain ‘Dreamwork’ as a component of dream analysis.
Dreamwork is the process of converting latent content into manifest content within the dream
Explain the stages of dreamwork.
Condensation - condensing many ideas into one
Displacement- emotional significance of ideas displaced to another object (censored / disguised)
Secondary elaboration - the ideas are brought together and made into a story
Symbolism - symbols replaces actions, people and ideas
Representation - thoughts are represented through visual images in the brain
Explain ‘Role of the therapist’ as a component of dream analysis.
A therapist will discuss the manifest content with the patient and help to guide them in uncovering the latent content however the final meaning of the dream is ultimately down to the therapist
Explain how the assumption can be applied to dream analysis.
Unconscious mind - unconscious desires expressed through dreams as wish fulfillment
Childhood experiences - dreamwork may censor previous experiences through childhood
Tripartite personality - dreams allow the ID to fulfil and live out it’s unacceptable desires
What can be used to show the effectiveness of dream analysis as a strength?
Case studies - dora’s dream: at 16, Dora’s friends father made sexual advances towards her and had a dream that their house was on fire but her mother wanted to stop for the ‘jewel case’ which was a name for the female genitals
Research support - Solms (2000) used PET scans which found the rational part of the brain is inactive during sleep
What can be used to show effectiveness of dream analysis as a weakness?
Methodological issues - studies are conducted in sleep labs therefore lacks ecological validity
What can be used to show the ethics of dream analysis as a weakness?
Emotional harm - uncovering repressed memories
Therapist-client relationship - could cause harm and reliance on therapist
False memory syndrome - therapist could uncover fake traumas
