Freuds Psychoanalytic Theory: Techniques ( Dream Analysis, Free Association, Confrontation, Clarification, Interpretation)

Psychioanalysis Theory

A theory and therapeutic method focusing on unconscious mind influences on

behavior

Seeks to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts causing psychological distress

Explores early childhood experiences as determinants of adult personality and

psychopathology

Uses techniques like dream analysis, free association to access subconscious

thoughts

Central premise: mental life divided into conscious, preconscious, and unconscious

levels

Personality organized around id (instincts), ego (reality negotiation), and superego

(moral

conscience)

Pessimistic and deterministic

part of view of human nature where Freud viewed

humans as being in a constant struggle between

their innate animalistic urges (the id) and the

demands of civilized society (the superego).

Influenced by early childhood

part of the view of human nature. Adult personality

and psychological problems are shaped by early

childhood

experiences,

particularly

the

successful or unsuccessful navigation of the

psychosexual stages

Driven by instinctual forces

part of human nature where freud views human nature are drive by 2 instinct.The two primary human

instincts are Eros (the life instinct, encompassing

survival, pleasure, and sex) and Thanatos (the death

instinct, driving aggression and self-destruction).

Eros

the life instinct,encompassing survival,pleasure and sex

Thanatos

the death instinct, driving aggression and self-destruction

Therepeutic Goal

The client is viewed as a person

suffering from repressed childhood issues that can be

resolved by bringing the unconscious material into

consciousness. The goal is to strengthen the ego's

control, reduce internal conflict, and move from neurotic

misery to "common unhappiness".

Conscious

level od consciousness that encompass All thoughts, feelings, and sensations of which

one is aware at any given moment.

preconscious

level of consciousness where The area of the mind containing memories,

thoughts, and feelings that can be easily brought into

conscious awareness.

Unconscious

level of consicousness where The deepest level, containing hidden and

repressed thoughts, desires, and traumatic memories

that powerfully influence behavior without conscious

awareness.

id,ego,superego

the structure of the personality are

ID

The primitive, pleasure-seeking part of the mind that

operates entirely unconsciously and demands immediate

gratification

Ego

The rational, reality-oriented part of the mind that

mediates between the id's desires and the external world.

Superego

The moral compass that internalizes societal

and parental standards, leading to feelings of guilt or

pride

oral,anal,phallic,latency,genital stage

freud psychosexual stages

Fixation

at any stages due to unresolved conflict can lead to adult personality traits or neuroses

Anxiety

Unresolved conflicts between the id,ego and superego create anxiety which serves as a signal to the ego that something needs to be adressed.

Denial

Refusing to accept reality because it feels too painful.

Repression

Pushing uncomfortable thoughts or memories into the unconscious.

Suppression

Choosing to ignore a thought or feeling for the moment.

Projection

Blaming others for feelings or traits you don’t want to admit in yourself.

Displacement

Taking out feelings on a safer target instead of the real source.

Regression

Acting in a childish way when stressed or overwhelmed.

Rationalization

Making excuses to justify behaviors or feelings.

Reaction Formation

Showing the opposite feeling of what you really feel.

Sublimation

Turning negative feelings into positive, acceptable actions.

Intellectualization

Focusing only on logic and facts to avoid emotions

Identification

Copying someone else’s behavior to feel stronger or more secure.

Compensation

Trying to cover weaknesses by excelling in other areas.

Psychic Determinism

The principle that all human actions—even

apparent accidents like "Freudian slips" —are purposeful and have an

underlying, often unconscious, cause.

The Unconscious

The most fundamental principle, asserting that

much of our mental life and the motivation for our behavior is

unconscious

Conflict and Anxiety

Human behavior results from the conflicts

between the components of the psyche (id, ego, superego) and the

anxiety these conflicts produce

The Past Influences the Present

Early

childhood experiences are crucial in shaping

adult personality and psychological issues.

The Cathartic Cure

The therapeutic principle

that bringing repressed emotions and

experiences into conscious awareness

through talking can lead to a release of

emotional tension and healing

Therapeutic alliance:

Collaborative, interpretive relationship between analyst and patient

Transference

Patient projects feelings about significant others onto therapist, key for

analysis

Countertransference

Therapist’s emotional responses influence therapy, must be managed.the therapist's emotional and psychological reaction to a client, arising from their own personal history, beliefs, and unresolved issues.

Role of analyst

Neutral, nonjudgmental guide facilitating patient’s self-exploration

Increased self-awareness, resolution of internal conflicts, symptom relief

Therapy outcome

Be authentic

Take off the mask, show your real self, and

connect honestly with your therapist

Feel Fully

Experience your emotions without letting

them control you

Look Within

Explore your inner world, recurring themes,

and beliefs that shape your life.

Take Responsibility Wisely

Know what’s yours to carry

and what’s not

Grow Beyond Sessions

Stay curious, reframe your story,

and use life’s challenges as opportunities for change.

Dream Analysis

a therapeutic technique best known for its use

in psychoanalysis.

The process involves interpreting the manifest content (what

the dreamer remembers) and the latent content (the hidden,

symbolic meaning).

Free Association

A tool used in psychoanalysis — aims to deepen your self

understanding by looking at whatever thoughts, words, or

images come freely to your mind.Your therapist may ask you to share anything that is on your

mind, such as memories, words, images, or daydreams. What you

say won’t always make sense, and that’s OK. The aim is to

explore your inner world and look for patterns that come up.

Confrontation

This is a practice often done prior to an intervention where

the patient is encouraged to attend to experiences that they

have been avoiding.

Clarification

Where it tries to clarify what is going on in the patient’s

conscious mind

Interpretation

Hypothesizing client’s unconscious conflicts. These

hypotheses are communicated verbally to the client

Time-Consuming

– Sessions take a long time since deeply

personal and emotional issues are explored; client resistance

can make therapy even longer

Expensive

Often costly and not always covered by insurance;

access is limited and therapists trained in psychoanalysis can

be hard.

Effectiveness

Works well for some disorders (e.g., anxiety)

but may be less effective for others (e.g., depression)

Risk of dependence

Some clients may become too

dependent on their therapist because of the intense and

prolonged nature of the therapy.