Chapter 6b: Psychodynamic Theories & Techniques - Jung, Object Relations, Sullivan, Attachment

What are the 6 psychodynamic theories?

•Psychoanalysis: the original, Freud's theory

•Individual Psychology: Alfred Adler

•Analytical Psychology: Carl Jung

•Harry Stack Sullivan

•Object Relations Theory

•Ego Psychology

What do all psychodynamics share and the goal?

- Unconscious conflicts underlie ones problems (On one side are biological sexual drives that are potentially destructive, On the other side are attempts to fit into society)

- Goal of therapy is to become aware of these conflicts and come to terms with them

What is Jung's Individuation?

Attempts to become whole

What is Jung's concious?

What person is aware of

What is Jung's personal concious?

Memories & ideas outside of one's awareness unique to the individual

What is Jung's complex?

Area of concern for a client.

What is Jung's collective unconcious?

Memories & ideas outside of awareness that all humans share. (As a result of the history of the human species, basically this is bred into us).

What are Jung's archetypes and where do they appear?

- Core ideas/images of how people think about the world, consciously & unconsciously.

- Appear in dreams, thoughts, and mythology.

What is Jung's shadow?

Shadow figure represents parts of the self the client is trying to deny

What are Jung's Anima and Animus?

Represent ideal mate, completes the person. We all have elements of male & female within us (hetero males have anima; females animus), Shape responses to the other sex.

What is Jung's persona?

The social mask one wears in public, everyone's persona is false to some degree: we all keep some aspects of our real selves private.

What are the motivations for introverts and extroverts with Jung's Personality Type Theory?

- Introverts - gain energy through time alone

- Extraverts - gain energy through interacting with others

What are the 4 ways for relating to the world according to Jung's Personality Type Theory?

Thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuiting.

What is associated with the thinking personality type?

Using logic, reason, rationality

What is associated with the feeling personality type?

Concern with self and other's emotions

What is associated with the sensing personality type?

Focusing on details & facts in the world.

What is associated with the intuiting personality type?

Looking for patterns & theory

True or false: people vary in which way predominates, but balance the best.

True: Usually Thinking or feeling predominate; sensing or intuiting predominate

What is The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)?

A personality test, validity data but it isn't very good, but still used in the business world, and counseling.

What is Jung's Active Imagination?

- Client clears mind & concentrate intensely on an image.W

What is an intervention for Jung's Active Imagination technique?

Image can be developed from the client's mood, complex, thought, dream. Once the image moves, person might interact with the image, talk, imagine themself at the scene of what they are picturing.

What is the object relations theory?

- The analysis of interpersonal relationships.

- We relate to others via the images of them in our minds.

What are the objects in the object relations theory?

- Objects: partially accurate mental images of people

- The images do not always match reality

What are the four principle themes of the object relations theory?

1. Every relationship has elements of satisfaction/

pleasure and frustration/pain.

2. Every relationship has a mix of love and hate

3. Often people don't distinguish between parts of the love object and the whole person (Relationship with parents, Conditional liking)

4. The psyche is aware of and disturbed by contradictory feelings towards object

What is an example of people not distinguishing between parts of the love object and the whole person?

To a baby, the mother IS the breast, at least at first. It is a complex and difficult process for the child to come to see the mother as more than what she provides. (Mother as a whole person and not just a breast to provide food).

What is the "split" according to Melanie Klein's object relations theory?

We split love objects into good and bad parts (These desires are contradictory & irrational; So may use neurotic defenses to ignore the bad).

What is recapitulation and why does it occur?

- Definition: each partner tries to re-create circumstances of undeveloped past family experiences, to work through them.

- Why: Any unresolved issues in a person’s family of origin are brought into the person’s own family.

What is an innovation in child therapy?

- Play therapy: communicating with and diagnosing children through play.

- Play shows the symbolic expression of emotions such as hate, anger, love, and fear.

What are transitional objects according to Winnicott? An example?

- Definition: Source of comfort when loved ones not available. Used to bridge the gap between private fantasy and reality

- Example: A child may have things like a special blanket, stuffed animal that help the child face the world alone. Child gives the object a special, almost magical emotional meaning.

What is the false self and the dangers of it?

- Definition: learn to create a public image that pleases others (To some degree this is healthy and necessary). It protects the true self, keeping it hidden, unable to be harmed.

- Dangers: Children who are particularly charming to cheer depressed parents, this could cause them to loose their integrity, emotionally draining to always put on a happy face, to be a child trying to please a parent, to always have to put on false self at home, which is place to relax, show true self.

According to Winnicott, what are the two major goals of Object Relations Therapy?

- Therapy: Minimize discrepancies between 1. true & false selves and 2. transference & who people really are.

According to Harry Stacks Sullivan, what is the key to mental problems and recovery?

- Relationships with others. The person defines themselves through how others perceive him.

What are the key tenets of Harry Sullivan's Interpersonal Therapy?

- Therapists focus on social problems: Grieving the loss of loved ones (death, breakup); Role transitions (job, wife); Deficits in interpersonal skills

- Therapist finds ways help client let go of past relationship and invest in new relationships/roles

- Therapist notes how client interacts with them

- Therapist explores clients current feelings (Being listened to is healing; Increases awareness of emotions and so make better decisions)

What is the definition of Bowlby's Attachment Theory?

Patterns of relationships with others that are consistently repeated with different partners throughout life.

What is Bowlby's Attachment Theory based on?

It is based on the evolutionary theory:

- Humans fear being alone

- Humans are motivated to find protection

What is Bowlby's view on attachment and attachments with caregivers?

- Desire for protection leads to attachments

- First attachment is with primary caregiver

- Two lessons from experiences with caregivers: How attachment figure is likely to react or be reliable; Whether self is worthy of being cared for

What 2 expectations are developed based on attachments in Bowlby's theory?

- Working Models of Others: images of how others can be expected to react

- Working Models of Self: how he expects himself to behave

What was Mary Ainsworth Strange Situation Task?

How a child responded when their mom was in the lab, left the lab, and then came back.

What is a secure attachment style?

- A child used mom as safe base, exhibited separation

anxiety and cried when mom left, reconnected with mom when she came back.

What is an avoidant attachment style?

- A child is not responsive to mom when she is in room or out of room, or when she came back.

What is a resistant (anxious) attachment style?

- A child would not leave mom's side, and was angry when mom left and came back.