The Psychodynamic Model & Therapies

Psychodynamic Theory

The theoretical model developed by Sigmund Freud that is based on the belief that the roots of psychological problems involve unconscious motives and unresolved conflicts that can be traced back to childhood.

Consciousness

Part of the mind that corresponds to our present awareness.

Preconscious

Part of the mind that contains memories

not in awareness but can be brought into awareness by

focusing attention on them

Unconscious

Part of the mind that lies outside the range of ordinary awareness and that contains instinctual urges.

Freuds Structural Model - Id

The primitive, instinctive part of personality that works on the pleasure principle

Freuds Structural Model - Ego

The rational, decision-making part of personality that operates according to the reality principle (delay gratification of the id’s impulses until it is appropriate)

Freuds Structural Model - Superego

A set of ethical rules for behavior developed from parental and societal standards for morality. Operates on the morality principle (guilt if rules are violated)

Defense Mechanisms

The reality-distorting strategies used by the ego to shield the self from awareness of anxiety-provoking impulses.

Defense Mechanisms - Repression

Banishment of unacceptable urges, wishes, or impulses to the unconscious mind.

Defense Mechanisms - Denial

Refusal to accept the reality of a threatening impulse or unsafe behavior.

Defense Mechanisms - Rationalization

Self-justifications for unacceptable behavior used as a form of self-deception.

Defense Mechanisms - Displacement

Directing ones unacceptable impulses towards threatening objects onto safer or less-threatening objects.

Defense Mechanisms - Projection

Attributing ones own impulses or wishes to another person.

Defense Mechanisms - Reaction Formation

Taking the opposite stance to what one truly wishes or believes so as to keep ones genuine impulses repressed.

Defense Mechanisms - Regression

Return of behaviors associated with earlier stages of development, generally during times of stress.

Defense Mechanisms - Sublimation

Channeling ones own unacceptable impulses into more socially appropriate pursuits or activities.

Psychosexual Stages - Oral

0-18 months; mouth (weaning from breast or bottle)

Psychosexual Stages - Anal

18 months - 3 years; toilet training

Psychosexual Stages - Phallic

3 - 6 years; overcoming the Oedipus complex

Psychosexual Stages - Latency

6 years - puberty; Interacting with same sex peers

Psychosexual Stages - Genital

Puberty - adult; establishing intimate relationships with opposite sex

Carl Jung

Analytical psychology; personal and collective unconscious and archetypes

Alfred Adler

Individual psychology; people are driven by inferiority complex and importance on self-awareness

Karen Horney

Stressed importance of child-parent relationships

Heinz Hartmann

Ego Psychology; focus on conscious strivings of the ego

Erik Erikson

Focused on psychosocial development; importance to social relationships and formation of personal identity

Margaret Mahler

Object-Relations theorist; focused on internalized representations of the personalities of parents

Abnormal Behavior in Psychodynamic Theory

Mental health is a function of the dynamic balance among the psychic strutters of the Id, Ego and Superego

Psychosis

A severe form of disturbed behavior characterized by impaired ability to interpret reality and difficulty meeting the demands of daily life.

Free Association

The method of verbalizing thoughts as they occur without conscious attempt to edit or censure them.

Dream Analysis

Dreams have two levels of content; Manifest and Latent content

Transference relationship

Transfer to the analyst of feelings and attitudes the client holds towards important figures in his or her life.

Countertransference

Transfer of feelings or attitudes that the analyst holds toward other persons in her or his life onto the client.