Chapter 6a: Psychodynamic Theories & Techniques - Freud & Adler

What do all psychodynamic therapies have in common?

- 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 are the different 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 did Freud believe caused mental Illness or distress?

Conflicts in the personality, delays in Psychosexual Stages of Development

What are the three parts of the personality and an example from Dr. Phillip's notes?

Id, Ego, Superego (Unconscious, Preconscious, and Conscious). Example: Id wants go out party, but superego study; Id wants to cheat on spouse, but superego says need work it out with spouse, don't cheat.

What is a defense mechanism?

Ways of coping to keep yourself from being overwhelmed by anxiety.

What are the 9 defense mechanisms by Freud?

Splitting, denial, projection, repression, regression, displacement, reaction formation, rationalization, and sublimation.

What is displacement and an example of it?

- Definition: Replacing one object of an emotion with another.

- Example: John yells at his wife because he is angry at is boss.

What is reaction formation and an example of it?

- Definition: Keep forbidden thoughts, feelings, or behaviors out of awareness by instigating their opposites.

- Example: Susan acts very nice and chummy with her boyfriend's ex.

What is rationalization and an example of it?

- Definition: Concoct a reason for something that would otherwise cause shame.

- Example: A student flunks a test and passes it off as the teacher created a bad test.

What is sublimation and an example of it?

- Definition: Rechanneling sexual and aggressive energy into pursuits society deems acceptable.

- Example: Tim goes to the gym to workout whenever he feels frustrated.

What is splitting and an example of it?

- Definition: View objects in extreme, as all good/bad, there is no in between.

- Example: Tina at first viewed her boyfriend as perfect, then as a real jerk.

What is denial and an example of it?

- Definition: Refusal to acknowledge or failure to see a source of anxiety.

- Example: An alcoholic refuses to acknowledge that she has a problem.

What is projection and an example of it?

- Definition: Attributing one's own feelings or thoughts to another person.

- Example: A very lonely divorced woman thinks that all other people are lonely too.

What is repression and an example of it?

- Definition: Involuntarily forgetting something unpleasant.

- Example: Jill forgets a traumatic incident from childhood.

What is regression and an example of it?

- Definition: Engaging in behaviors that are immature, behaviors representative of an earlier stage of development.

- Example: Susan bursts into tears whenever she is criticized.

What does the therapist do in when using psychoanalytic therapeutic techniques?

Therapist acts neutral, sitting at a distance behind client who lies on couch. Lie on couch: After a few sessions of face-to-face interviews.

What is free association?

Client says whatever comes to mind, with no censorship. This should reveal what is in his/her unconscious (used to analyze dreams; dreams are believed to reveal unconscious, including conflicts. But they distort the conflicts. It takes analysis to understand the underlying meaning).

What occurs with an interpretation with psychoanalytic techniques?

Therapist analyzes underlying unconscious motives to client's behavior.

What is transference?

Client's transfer their unresolved feelings from important childhood figures onto the therapist.

What is countertransference?

The therapist's reaction to client.

What is resistance and what kind of interventions can be used for it?

- Definition: Client engages in behaviors that resist progress in treatment.

- Interventions: Ask the client "What would it be like to talk about the behavior? What do you think might happen?"

What is the end goal for Adler's Individual Psychology Theory?

Strive to grow, become unitary, whole individual, but to become whole, need productive relationships with others.

What is the social interest for Adler's theory?

The desire to relate positively & productively with people & to improve humanity. (More important than sex. Family Interactions affect individual: Birth order affects personality). It drives us like Freud's libido drive us.

What is the inferiority complex for Adler's theory?

Feelings of inferiority & helplessness motivate us to seek change. We compensate for whatever we perceived was our weakest aspect in childhood.

What are the three parts of the Analysis of Life-Style for Adler?

- Patient's Place in the Family Constellation (position client in family).

- Early Recollection: early memories of a single event

- Basic Mistakes: myths about life (Overgeneralizations (Life is dangerous); False Security (People must like me); Misperceptions of Life Demands (Life never gives me any breaks); Minimization of one's worth (I'm undeserving)).

What was Adler's view of the oldest child?

Oldest is taught to be responsible, and often hovered over by parents, who are restrictive. This leads to responsibility, high achievement, but neurotic.

What was Adler's view of the middle child?

Middle child - forgotten child - oldest is special because they were first, youngest is special because they are the last. So middle child strikes out on own outside family, very social.

What was Adler's view of the youngest child?

Youngest - carefree, creative.

How can you approach Adlerian therapy when it comes to rational arguments and the relationship with the therapist?

- Therapist as collaborator – a good, equal relationship is the key to progress (Sit in chairs opposite each other, not even a desk between them, a desk could create a hierarchical boundary difference. Be warm, encouraging, have faith in client, not overly demanding, exude competence/confidence.

- Avoid rational arguments (Rational arguments are easily defeated through the client’s own private logic).

What is Adler's push button technique?

The patient is told to imagine a happy scene, then an unhappy scene, then a happy scene. Patient learns he controls own emotion.

What does it mean for a client to act on the "as if's"

It is common for a patient to say, "if only I could," so the client so try on a role as if they try on a suit.

What is a task setting with Adler?

- Do what is agreeable, or at least what is not disagreeable (for depressives)

- Do what it is you are fighting against (can't sleep, so try not to sleep. Can't stop stuttering, purposely try to stutter. This gives sense control, and exposure therapy).

What can creating images do for a client using Adlerian techniques?

Visualizing a picture can help with goals.