Psychoanalytic Therapy

Psychoanalytic Therapy

  • Key Figures and Major Focus

    • Sigmund Freud: The father of psychoanalysis.
    • Erik Erikson: Known for ego psychology.
    • Margaret Mahler: Associated with object relations.
    • Psychoanalysis is the first system of psychotherapy.

  • Philosophy and Basic Assumptions

    • Freud's view is deterministic, focusing on irrational forces, biological drives, and unconscious motivations.
    • Contemporary approaches stress social and cultural factors while emphasizing ego development and individuation of self.
    • Retains emphasis on unconscious processes, transference/countertransference, and early experiences.
    • Freud’s concepts are foundational for modern theories and therapeutic practices.

Key Concepts

View of Human Nature

  • Deterministic; behavior shaped by unconscious motivations and instinctual drives during psychosexual stages.
  • Life Instincts (Libido):
    • Initially referred to sexual energy; later broadened to include all life instincts aimed at survival, growth, and pleasure.
  • Death Instincts:
    • Accounts for aggressive drives.
    • Represents an unconscious wish to die or hurt oneself/others.

Structure of Personality

  • Id, Ego, Superego: Psychological structures governing personality.
    • Id:
    • Innate component; source of psychic energy governed by the pleasure principle.
    • Blind, demanding, and cannot tolerate tension.
    • Ego:
    • Executive function that mediates between id and reality, governed by the reality principle.
    • Responsible for rational thought and planning.
    • Superego:
    • Judicial component embodying moral standards.
    • Pursues perfection and controls id impulses through feelings of pride or guilt.

Conscious and The Unconscious

  • Unconscious is key to understanding behavior.
  • Inferred through:
    • Dreams.
    • Slips of the tongue, forgetfulness.
    • Hypnotic suggestions.
    • Projective techniques.
  • Psychoanalytic therapy aims to unravel unconscious motives.

Anxiety

  • Result of conflicts among the id, ego, and superego.
  • Types of Anxiety:
    • Reality Anxiety: Fear of real danger.
    • Neurotic Anxiety: Fear of instinctual impulses overwhelming the ego.
    • Moral Anxiety: Fear of violating moral standards.
  • Ego-Defence Mechanisms: Strategies to cope with anxiety, can distort reality.

Common Defence Mechanisms

  • Denial: Refusal to accept reality.
  • Regression: Reverting to earlier developmental behaviors.
  • Acting Out: Extreme behaviors to express feelings.
  • Dissociation: Disconnecting from reality during stress.
  • Compartmentalization: Separating conflicting values or aspects of life.
  • Projection: Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts to others.
  • Reaction Formation: Converting unwanted thoughts into their opposites.

Less Primitive, More Mature Defence Mechanisms

  • Repression: Unconsciously blocking unwanted thoughts.
  • Displacement: Redirecting feelings to a safe target.
  • Intellectualization: Overthinking to detach from emotions.
  • Rationalization: Explaining behaviors or thoughts in a different light.
  • Undoing: Attempting to reverse or negate unacceptable thoughts.

Mature Defence Mechanisms

  • Sublimation: Channeling unacceptable impulses into productive activities.
  • Compensation: Balancing weaknesses with strengths in other areas.
  • Assertiveness: Expressing one’s rights and needs directly and respectfully.

Development of Personality

  • Identifies crucial psychosexual developmental stages (oral, anal, phallic).
  • Patterns of unresolved conflicts lead individuals to therapy.
  • Case Study: Stan:
    • His self-destructive behavior and preoccupations analyzed through his past rejections and familial dynamics.
    • Therapy focuses on understanding how past experiences shape current relationships and behaviors to promote personality growth.