Psychoanalytic Counseling

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to Psychoanalytic Counseling and the theories of Sigmund Freud.

Sigmund Freud

A psychologist who developed the psychoanalytic approach to understanding the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach that aims to uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings to treat psychological disorders.

Instincts

Basic elements of personality that motivate behavior, comprising life instincts (Eros) and death instincts (Thanatos).

Ego

The rational part of the mind that balances the desires of the id and the moral constraints of the superego.

Id

The impulsive and instinctual part of the mind that operates on the pleasure principle.

Superego

The moral compass of the personality that internalizes societal rules and standards.

Anxiety

A psychological state representing unease, which can manifest as reality anxiety, neurotic anxiety, or moral anxiety.

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies used by the ego to manage anxiety and protect the self from distress.

Free Association

A technique in psychoanalysis where the client is encouraged to verbalize thoughts spontaneously to reveal the unconscious.

Dream Analysis

A method of interpreting dreams in psychoanalysis to uncover repressed thoughts and feelings.

Transference

The occurrence in psychoanalysis where clients project feelings about significant people from their past onto the therapist.

Resistance

A client's reluctance to discuss certain topics or bring unconscious material to awareness during therapy.

Oedipus Complex

A Freudian concept describing a boy's unconscious desire for his mother and rivalry with his father.

Castration Anxiety

A boy's fear during the Oedipal stage that his penis may be removed or harmed.

Electra Complex

The female counterpart to the Oedipus complex, where a girl unconsciously desires her father and views her mother as a rival.

Penis Envy

The concept suggesting that females experience feelings of inferiority and jealousy towards males due to the absence of a penis.

Insight

The realization and understanding of unconscious influences on personal misery and behaviors in psychoanalysis.