Chapter 4 Psychoanalysis

The Psychoanalytic Perspective Explains personality, motivation, and psychological disorders by focusing on: the influence of early childhood experiences unconscious motives and conflicts methods people use to cope with their sexual and aggressive impulses Freud’s determinism Sigmund Freud

Freud’s Pivotal Writings

Psychodynamic Model Behavior is determined by Unconscious psych forces Result from conflict between these forces No symptom or behavior is accidental

Dynamics There is an interplay of forces in the mind which act in unison or opposition These elements ultimately express themselves through compromise

Individual psychic elements are layered in consciousness Topography Individual psychic elements are layered in consciousness

The Psychoanalytic Perspective Personality Structure Id Operates on the pleasure principle Demands immediate gratification Superego Internalized ideals Develops from parents/ early childhood experiences Id Superego Ego Conscious mind Unconscious mind

The Psychoanalytic Perspective Personality Structure Ego Largely conscious Mediates demands of id and ego Reality principle Satisfy id in realistic ways that bring pleasure and not pain Id Superego Ego Conscious mind Unconscious mind

A Modern Example – The Family Guy

ID

Superego

Ego

Stages of Psychosexual Development Freud’s Psychosexual Stages Stage Focus Oral Pleasure centers on the mouth-- (0-18 months) sucking, biting, chewing Anal Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder (18-36 months) elimination; coping with demands for control Phallic Pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with (3-6 years) incestuous sexual feelings Latency Dormant sexual feelings (6 to puberty) Genital Maturation of sexual interests (puberty on)

Contrasting Freud’s Developmental Stages to other Theorists Psychosexual Erikson Psychosocial Piaget Cognitive 0-18 mos. Oral Trust vs. Mistrust Sensorimotor 18 mos. - 6 Anal (18 mos.–3 yrs); Phalic (3-6)*; *Oedipal and Electra Complex Autonomy vs. Shame (2-4); Initiative vs. Guilt (4-6) Preoperational 6-12 Latency Industry vs. Inferiority Concrete Operations 12 > Genital Identity vs. Role Confusion (12-18); Intimacy vs. Isolation (18-25); Generativity vs. Stagnation (25-50) Integrity vs. Despair (50+) Formal Operations

The Psychoanalytic Perspective Defense Mechanisms Unconscious reactions that protect a person from anxiety repression projection displacement reaction formation regression sublimation identification rationalization

Explanation of Abnormality All 3 forces often in conflict Healthy person all 3 forces are working effectively, with acceptable compromise If excessive conflict, behavior may be dysfunctional Defense mechanisms may not be working as good as in the past or are causing problems in one’s life

Assessing the Unconscious Projective Test Provides ambiguous stimuli designed to trigger projection of one’s inner dynamics Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Express feelings and interests by making up a story to an ambiguous picture

Assessing the Unconsciousness Projective Test Rorschach Inkblot Test Most widely used projective test Set of 10 inkblots Seeks to identify inner feelings by analyzing interpretations of inkblots

Goals of Psychoanalysis Enhance the best possible equilibrium for the functioning of the ego Improving ego’s conscious and mature control Enriching the nature & variety of defense mechanisms Develop perspectives grounded in an accurate & clear assessment of reality Capacity for healthy & rewarding intimate relationships Reducing perfectionism, rigidity & punitiveness of superego

Phases of Psychoanalysis Opening Development of Transference Working Through Resolution of the Transference

Opening Phase Lasts 3-6 months Patient reveals information at their pace Structured, formalized interview discouraged Analyst remains ultra aware of patient’s actions and words and notes issues of significance Analyst sketches out general outline of patient’s conflicts and resistances to identify themes

Development of Transference Major portion of therapeutic work Overlaps with “Working Through” phase Patient unconsciously reenacts childhood memories and fantasies and develops transference with the analyst Transference seen as a process in which repetition in action replaces event recollection By analyzing transference therapist assists patient in understanding how the past affects their interactions in the present

Working Through Multiple experiences of insight are needed to understand the nature of one’s conflicts Analysis of the transference facilitates memory recall Evidence builds to support which events really occurred versus which were fantasized Patient develops an in-depth understanding of how childhood events impacted them psychologically

Resolution of the Transference Termination phase of treatment Analyst focuses on assisting the patient in resolving unconscious neurotic attachment to the analyst Often symptom intensification occurs due to an unconscious attempt to continue the therapeutic relationship Ultimately treatment focus is redirected to the future

Application Better for neurotic disorders and not for psychotic disorders Erroneous & harmful ideas about women E.g., blaming mothers for childhood distress Men emotionally healthier Encourages anonymity among therapist Importance of self satisfaction & individual dev greater than social & family involvement Very western Eurocentric approach

Psychoanalysis Current Psychodynamic Approaches Highly intensive Less intensive 3 or more sessions a week 1-2 sessions a week Patient lying down Patient sitting up Therapist outside of patient’s immediate visual awareness Therapist facing patient

Current Psychodynamic Approaches Psychoanalysis Current Psychodynamic Approaches Training generally reserved for those with advanced training as a psychiatrist or psychologist Training generally offered to most mental health professionals Analyst has undergone personal analysis Prior personal mental health treatment optional for the therapist

Freud’s Legacy Few continue to practice psychoanalysis in its originally conceived form However, most forms of therapy stem from some element of psychoanalytic theory or technique Psychodynamic approaches retain central principles of psychoanalysis but not the metapsychology