psychoanalysis theory and practice

basic assumptions

theory of personality

humans are motivated by unconscious drives

therapy facilitates awareness of unconscious motivations to increase choices and exploration of ways in which we avoid painful experiences

humans are ambivalent about change

emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as an arena for exploring the conscious and unconscious

focus on clients gaining insight

ego psychology

Anna freud

abnormal behaviour develops when ego is deficient in regulating functions/controlling impulses

object relations theory

Donald winnicott

stresses importance of early family interactions in personality development

stages of psychosocial development (definition)

Eric erikson

successful completion of each stage results in a healthy personality and the acquisition of basic virtues

French psychoanalysis school

Jacques lacan

emphasized the primacy of language as constitutive of the unconscious

analytical psychology

carl jung

places a central importance on psychological changes associated with midlife

primary goal is to achieve the harmonious integration of the conscious and unconscious aspects of personality (individuation)

collective unconscious

collective unconscious

store of universal archetypes, myths, faith tales, and experiences that everyone holds in their psyche

freud’s structure of personality

Id, Ego, Superego

id

ruled by the pleasure principle

unconscious, impulsive, instinctual

ego

ruled by the reality principle

mediator between is and superego

strives to meet the needs of the id in a socially appropriate way

superego

ruled by the moral principle

always striving for perfection

generally prohibits the id’s drives that are not socially acceptable

unconscious

inferred from behaviour

dreams

slips of tongue/forgetting

posthypnotic suggestions

symbolic content of psychotic symptoms (hallucinations/delusions)

material from free association

unconscious processed are at the root of all forms of neurotic symptoms and behaviours

anxiety

state of tension that motivates us to do something

functions to warn of impending danger

reality anxiety

proportionate to the degree of the real threat

neurotic anxiety

fear that instincts will get out of hand and person will be punished

moral anxiety

fear on one’s own conscience

defence mechanism

normal behaviours which operate on an unconscious level and tend to deny or distort reality

help the individual cope with anxiety and prevent the ego from being overwhelmed

psychosocial staged

year 1: oral stage

1-3: anal stage

3-6: phallic stage

6-12: latency stage

12-60: genital stage

classical psychoanalysis

long term therapy

free association

blank screen approach

goal of classical psychoanalysis

make the unconscious conscious

strengthen ego so behaviour is based on reality

therapeutic relationship

objective

therapist assumes neutral position, stands outside the relationship, comments on it

transference

client’s unconscious shifting to the analyst of feelings, attitudes, fantasies that are to significant others in client’s past

countertransference

therapist’s unconscious emotional responses to a client based on the therapist’s own past, resulting in distorted perception of the client’s behaviour

triangle of insight

wish or aim

defensive compromise

imagined threat/anxiety

analysis of resistance

therapist helps client become aware of the reasons for their resistance so. they can deal with them

analysis of transference

therapist uses this technique as a route to figure out client’s intrapsychic life

psychodynamic theory

changes expected in shorter period

one major focus rather than free association

psychodynamic process

1. assess personality dynamics and unconscious processes

2. facilitate client insight

3. work through insight

4. new thought, feelings, behaviours

therapeutic process

therapeutic alliance is key

attention is given to resistances which is dealt with by interpretations and listening to what is and is not said

achieve insight into problems to help clients gain control over their lives

offering ill-timed interpretations renders the process ineffective

relationship between therapist and client

therapist focuses on the here-and-now transference as an earlier re-enactment

therapist focuses on feelings, perceptions, and action that is happening in the moment

techniques

working through

free association

interpretation

analysis of resistance

transference

working through

repetitive and elaborate exploration of the unconscious material and defences

interpretation

therapist points out, explains, and teaches the meanings of whatever is revealed

limitations of psychodynamic approaches

based on upper- and middle-class values

cost of treatment

concerned with long-term problem solving

fails to address social, cultural, and political factors