Psychodynamic Psychology Definition Based on unconscious cognitive, emotional and relational dynamics that influence behavior Drives – instincts that motivate behavior Structures – patterns that organize aspects of personality Objects – internalized representations of relationships Psychotherapy focused on uncovering these unconscious processes Bring them to conscious awareness Modifying the patterns of relational dynamics

Friedrich Nietzsche ( ) Death of God Modern Science Secularization of Society God is no longer basis for meaning and values Academic context open to competing claims about source of religion

Friedrich Nietzsche ( ) Subversion of Religion Theology based on the assumption that Christian beliefs produce moral goodness Nietzsche reverses this thesis Religion serves the needs of those in power Used as a means of control and manipulation Christian morality used to control the poor and less fortunate Undermines traditional view of religion Opens the door for subversive interpretations of religion

Ludwig Feuerbach ( ) Anthropological essence of religion God is the projection of the internal nature of humanity Needs Desires God is not divine, but humanity projects itself as a divine supernatural being Exposes religion as an illusion to be rejected

Sigmund Freud ( ) Raised in a Jewish context in what would become the Czech Republic, later moved to Vienna First born of 8 children to his mother Parents sacrificed considerably for his education Father of Psychodynamic theory Started as a neurologist Atheist; Critical of Judeo-Christian Religion

Freuds Psychology Id Superego EgoConscious mind Unconscious mind Structure of the Personality

Freuds Psychology Id Source of unconscious psychic energy Attempts to satisfy sexual and aggressive drives Operates by the pleasure principle Super Ego Internalized moral standards Judges behavior according to external moral laws Often in conflict with Id

Freuds Psychology Ego Manages the conflicting needs of the id and superego within the constraints of reality Aspect of personality that is largely conscious Executive aspect of the personality Operates according to the reality principle Drives Libido (Drive to live) Survival, reproduction, hunger, thrist Death Instinct (Thantos) Return to a state of calm Lower levels of arousal

Freuds Psychology Satisfying the needs of different aspects of the personality and drives causes tension Id wants to be satisfied, super ego moralizes, ego tries to deal with reality Unconscious processes difficult to deal with Tensions create anxiety and other psychological problems Persons seeks to decrease the tension

Freuds Psychology Defense Mechanisms Ego reduces anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality Repression Removes negative and anxiety-producing feelings or thoughts from consciousness Projection Applying negative aspects of the the self to others Displacement Taking out aggression or other drives on less threatening objects

Freuds Psychology Defense Mechanisms Rationalization Justifying behavior based on acceptable reasons rather than unconscious ones Regression Moving to a more immature state to deal with anxiety Reaction Formation Switching unconscious impulses to their exact opposites

Origins of Religion Totem and Taboo (1913) Religion came about through an act of patricide Early human tribe in pre-history Father of a group of expelled males is the Alpha (Leader) Males later return and kill the father to achieve power Guilt and ambivalence over murder leads to the deification of the father (Totem or religious symbol) Sacrificial rituals arise out of this first act of violence (Original Sin)

Origins of the Judeo-Christian God God is a projection of the internal unconscious world Subversion of Religion Freud reverses the basis of Christian theology God created humanity in his image Gen 1:27 Humanity created God in their image Religion is a source of consolation to deal with anxiety and tension

God as Projection The Future of an Illusion (1927) Built a case for the elimination of religion Civilization should help us tame nature and its resultant problems Longing for God is the search for a protective father Helps us deal with anxiety and helplessness Childhood idealizations Religion contains too many contradicts to be true Should instead turn to reason and science to deal with social problems

Consequences God as projection through which unconscious processes resolved Can be positive or negative Aspects of internal world projected onto to God in order to deal with tension and anxiety God as critical parent; loving parent Reaction formation – God is all good because I see myself as all bad Displacement – negative aspects of the person attributed to Satan

Critiques Anthropological and evolutionary evidence disproves his origins theory Freuds definition of God is a projection of his internal world, but only his Adolescent rejection of the father Reductionistic and inflexible views of religion Associating religion with pathology ignores the positive aspects of religious belief Freuds psychodynamic case studies do not directly support his theories about religion