Psychoanalytic Therapy: Freud and Beyond

Psychoanalytic Therapy

• Psychoanalytic theory continues impacting contemporary practice.
• Most theories covered have been influenced by psychoanalytic principles.
• Freud's psychoanalytic system offers a personality & psychotherapy model
• It highlights psychodynamic motivators and the unconscious role
• Develops therapeutic procedures to modify basic character structures
• Freud's theory serves as a benchmark for other theories.
• Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy are examined
• Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory is summarized
• Brief attention is given to Carl Jung's perspective
• Contemporary psychoanalytic approaches are covered:
  • Object-relations theory,
  • Self-psychology,
  • Relational model.
• Contemporary theories modify or abandon Freud's drive theory.
• These approaches emphasize:
• Unconscious processes.
• Transference & countertransference.
• Ego defenses.
• Internal conflicts.
• Early life experiences.

View of Human Nature

• Freud believed human nature is deterministic.
• Behavior is determined by irrational forces, unconscious motivations, & biological/instinctual drives.
• These determinants evolve through psychosexual stages during the first six years.
• Instincts are key to the Freudian approach, serving individual & species survival, growth, development, & creativity.
• Libido was initially used for sexual energy, then broadened for all life instincts
• It encompasses sexual energy and pleasurable life acts
• Death instincts account for aggressive drive.
• People display an unconscious wish to die/harm themselves/others.
• Managing aggression poses a challenge to humanity.
• Both sexual and aggressive drives shape human behavior.

Structure of Personality

• The personality comprises the id, ego, and superego psychological structures.
• Personality functions as a whole, not as discrete segments.
• The id is the untamed drives or impulses and the biological component.
• The ego organizes & mediates between the id & reality of dangers.
• The superego is the internalized social component rooted in perceived parental expectations.
• It can be more punitive and demanding than the parents really were
• Actions of the ego can be conscious or unconscious, defenses are typically unconscious.
• Freud viewed humans as energy systems where psychic energy is distributed among the id, ego & superego.
• A system gains control over energy at the expense of others, determining behavior.

The ID

• The id is the original personality system that exists at birth.
• It is the primary source of psychic energy and lacks organization.
• The id cannot tolerate tension, functioning to discharge tension immediately.
• It is ruled by the pleasure principle, which reduces tension, avoids pain, and gains pleasure.
• The id is illogical, amoral, driven to satisfy needs, and largely unconscious.

The Ego

• The ego controls consciousness, exercises censorship and relates to external reality.
• It is the "executive" regulating the personality and mediating between instincts & environment.
• The ego is governed by the reality principle.
• It engages in realistic/logical thinking, formulates action plans and thus satisfies needs.
• The ego distinguishes between subjective reality from external world.

The Superego

• The superego operates as the judicial section of the personality structure.
• It embodies moral code concerned with actions as good or bad, right or wrong.
• It represents the ideal, striving for perfection and represents values handed down from society.
• The superego inhibits id impulses, persuades the ego toward moralistic goals, and relates to psychological rewards/punishments like pride/guilt.

Consciousness and the Unconscious

• Perhaps Freud's greatest idea was his concepts of the unconscious.
• It cannot be studied directly, but is inferred.
• Clinical evidence includes:
• (1) Dreams.
• (2) Slips of the tongue.
• (3) Posthypnotic suggestions.
• (4) Free-association techniques.
• (5) Projective techniques.
• (6) Symbolic content of psychotic symptoms.
• Consciousness is a thin slice of that which lies below the water line
• The unconscious stores experiences, memories, & repressed material beyond conscious control.
• Psychoanalytic therapy aims to make the unconscious conscious.
• This allows individuals to use their ability to chose a course of action.
• Understanding the unconscious is central to psychoanalytic approach.
• Unconscious processes underlie neurotic symptoms/behaviors.
• A "cure" uncovers symptom meanings, causes of behavior, & repressed material
• Intellectual insight alone is not sufficient; a client's need to cling to patterns must be confronted through transference.

Anxiety

• Anxiety is a feeling of dread that results from repressed feelings, memories, desires, & experiences emerging into awareness.
• It acts as a tension state that motivates action over conflict among id, ego & superego.
• Anxiety warns of impending danger.
• Reality anxiety.
• Is fear of external danger proportional to the real threat.
• Neurotic anxiety & moral anxieties.
• Evoked by threats to internal power balance, signal ego that danger will lead to being overthrown.
• Neurotic anxiety.
• Fear of instincts getting out of control, leading to punishment.
• Moral anxiety.
• Fear of one's conscience that makes people feel guilt when doing what is contrary to their moral code.
• Ego uses ego-defense behavior if anxiety cannot be controlled rationally.

Ego-Defense Mechanisms

• Ego-defense mechanisms help cope with anxiety.
• They prevent the ego from being overwhelmed and are considered normal if not used to avoid facing truth.
• Defenses are based on development & anxiety level.
• Common traits: (1) deny/distort reality, (2) operate unconsciously.

Ego-Defense Mechanisms

 Threatening thoughts/feelings excluded from awareness.
  Is a basis for other ego defenses/neurotic disorders. Freud saw repression as involuntarily removing something from consciousness, where buried painful events influence behavior

• Denial "Closing one's eyes” to a threatening reality. Distorts individual thoughts, feelings, perceptions in a traumatic situation. Similar to repression, but works at preconscious and conscious levels.

• Reaction formation Actively expressing the opposite impulse when threatened by that impulse. Attitudes/behaviors opposed to disturbing desires so to not face the resulting anxiety. Masking hate with love...

• Projection Attributing unacceptable desires/impulses to others. Involves self-deception where unacceptable impulses are seen as possessed by "those people out there, but not by me."

• Displacement Directing energy toward another object when the original is inaccessible. Involves shifting impulses from a threatening object to a safer target. Timid man feeling intimidated by his boss unleashes hostility onto kids

• Rationalization Manufacturing "good" reasons that explain away a bruised ego. Justifies specific behaviors, softens blow of disappointment when do not get a job.

Ego-Defense Mechanisms continued

• Sublimation Diverting sexual/aggressive energy into other channels. Diverts energy into socially acceptable and admirable athletics impulses.

• Regression Going back to earlier phase with fewer demands. Cope with anxiety in severe stress by clinging to immature/inappropriate behaviors. Frightened children regress by weeping or thumb-sucking.

• Introjection Taking in and "swallowing" values of others. If positive, they include parental values assuming they are not uncritically accepted. Negative forms see prisoners accepting values of oppressor to deal with anxiety.

• Identification Identifying with successful causes/ people to up self-worth. Part of development when kids take on gender roles. Defensive reaction for those who feel inferior and lack self-worth.

• Compensation Masking weaknesses/developing positive traits to make up for limits. Adjustment helps to say, "Don't see the ways I'm inferior, see me in my accomplishments."

Development of Personality

• Psychoanalytic model delineates psychosexual/psychosocial stages from birth to adulthood.
• Psychosexual stages are Freudian chronological phases of development from infancy.
• Freud postulated three early stages that inform the need for counseling when unmet:
  • Oral stage.
  • Anal stage.
  • Phallic stage.
• Deficits at these stage relate to love, trust, autonomy, and sexuality, respectively.
• If a child's needs are inadequately during development, they may become fixated and act immature in the future.

Erikson's Psychosocial Perspective

• Erikson expanded Freud's development stages by stressing psychosocial development beyond childhood.
• Psychosocial stages are social tasks that need to be mastered across intervals from infancy to old age.
• Erikson's theory suggests psychosexual/social growth occurs together at each stage.
• Task is to establish equilibrium between ourselves and the world through life.
• Development involves entire life span from distinct turning points where development can progress or regress.
• To a large extent, life is the result choices we make.
• Erikson emphasized the social factors to contemporary psychoanalysis.
• Classical psychoanalysis is grounded on internal factors shaping personality.
• Contemporary psychoanalysis focuses on the ego (ex: ego-psychlogy).
• Ego-Psychology is when therapists assist clients to increase awareness.

Therapeutic Goals

• The ultimate objective is adaptive functioning, so that symptoms will be reduced.
• Freud, one ultimate goal is ego, that behavior is based more on reality.
• Effective analysis = modification of the character structure.
• Methods used to bring unconscious material to clients.
• Process is deeper past diving that creates a change in person.
• Feelings MUST be understood with the therapy.

Therapist's Function and Role

• In psychoanalysis, therapists take an anonymous way called blank screen.
• To a certain place, therapy becomes a cornerstone of what is really happening.
• Therapists can say little and have their reactions.
• Origin is their expression which had origins from past situations.
• One main piece is that therapist help clients be open to freedom and peace.
• With it is to have a therapeutic relationship, where there empathetic.
• When needed, they find the right interpretation by respecting the client.
• A main operation is the therapist paying attention.
• Understanding the personality structure allows the doctor to understand the client.

Client’s Experience in Therapy

• The client need to make a committed to change throughout.
• Verbal is in their heart they are a heart of what's to change.
• To help be avoided they make it so that is unsettled and loose of defense.
• Are some restriction with less power during treatment
• Client must be clear how they are the cause

Relationship Between Therapist and Clent

• There are relationships change from time and time again for many analysts point of views.
• This leads to change to what their views.
• But all support these new comings they all need a warm and better client .

Transference

• Transference is part of understanding.
• A key to therapy and relationship is the transference relations.
• The feelings and client’s way help change their views.
• For example.clients may transfer feelings toward a stern
• Often this is the way of the unconscious in behavior now.
• It all has a factor in past experiences.

Application: Therapeutic Techniques and Procedures

• Aims at increasing awareness to better help give client the understanding of the behaviors.
• And understanding of the all the meanings of their symptoms.
• It will need to work for change to open the unconscious.
• The steps in it are with clients
  • (1) maintaining the framework,
  • (2) free association,
  • (3) interpretation,
  • (4) dream analysis,
  • (5) analysis of resistance,
  • (6) analysis of transference.

Jung’s Perspective on the Development of Personality

• Jung, had a different to how Jung was.
• But it was till at his peak .
• All this was by new ways to learn,
• His pioneering to learn about the social changes and middles age.
• In the first way to is to learn by these to give meaning to all our unconscious.
• They should give there self more to there writings too.

Contemporary Trends: Object-Relations Theory, Self Psychology

• As therapy has been made their theory has been made from a new found for to the new faces of clients
• The therapist is the most likely and be the best.
• With good clients and understanding the right ways the is what makes therapist.
• The past now has more to deal with than the future
• There will be times that client will to separate and not mix there views to each

Psychoanalytic Therapy From a Multicultural Perspective

• Change start with in the right places if this to.
• Clients tend to keep their old ways when the not right for them
• All can have it if they are willing to
• But if not it can have side on the client’s mind
• Also , it will take time but this help them gain focus though

Advantages of this Therapy

• This is to help you gain more with your past
• But must change your ideals to something new so that your focus with it is better
• Therapy comes with good tools it helps to change one's way to be
• In some areas there are all people at there new best

Disadvantages of this Therapy

• Some therapy take one or a half all all the same
• But then they will get the chance that could change the rest. - To one it is all in the mind
• Others will seem to have less from there and more form here to. - It help all clients and there new ways to help out where to go