ESSAY CHAPTER 2

201312592

CUENCA, ROCHELLE A.

Short Answer
1.
Discuss the conclusions that Freud drew from his early use of the talking
method.
ANS. He concluded that at the time of the original trauma the patient had had to
hold back a strong emotion. The patient had forgotten the event and was
unconscious or unaware of it. Freud's concept of unconscious processes is a
dynamic one in which certain forces repress undesirable thoughts and then actively
resist their becoming conscious.
2.
Discuss Freuds attitude regarding the relationship between emotion and
repression in human life.
ANS. An emotion that is prevented from expressing itself normally may be
expressed through a neurotic symptom. Emotions that accompany events must
ultimately be expressed. If they cannot find direct expression, they will find indirect
expressions, such as neurotic symptoms. Ideally the expression is nondestructive.
While repression as defined by Freud, or neurotic behavior occurs when repression
develops under the influence of the superego and the internalized feelings of
anxiety, in ways leading to behavior that is illogical, self-destructive, or anti-social.
3.
Describe the technique of free association and explain why psychoanalysts
found it beneficial.
ANS. The patient is asked to verbalize whatever comes to mind no matter how
insignificant, trivial or even unpleasant the idea might be. Later they reflect upon
those associations.
4.
Explain why Freud considered dreams and slips of the tongue the royal road
to the unconscious. Explain how they may be analyzed.
ANS. Freud considered slips and dreams to be the "royal road" to the unconscious.
They are analyzed by free-associating to the slip itself or to various elements of the
dream. The analysis helps us to distinguish between the manifest dream and the
latent dream that underlies it.
5.
Explain the difference, according to Freudian theory, between the manifest
dream and the latent dream.
ANS. Freud believed that the content of dreams is related to wish fulfillment and
suggested that dreams have two types of content: manifest content and latent
content. The manifest content is the actual literal subject-matter of the dream while
the latent content is the underlying meaning of these symbols.
6.
Describe Freuds psychosexual stages of development. Explain the important
events of each stage.
ANS. During the oral stage, the major source of pleasure and pain is the mouth. The
anal stage follows; libidinal energy is focused on the anus and the buttocks. During

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the phallic stage the genital organs become important, and children experience the
Oedipus complex, whose resolution leads to the development of a superego and
sexual identification. The latency period is one of rest, and the genital stage begins
at puberty when the sexual organs mature and the individual is able to assume the
sexual role outlined by his or her culture.
7.
Discuss how various adult character traits and disorders reflect the effects of
the oral psychosexual stage.
ANS. During the oral stage, the child if focused on oral pleasures (sucking). Too
much or too little gratification can result in an Oral Fixation or Oral Personality which
is evidenced by a preoccupation with oral activities. This type of personality may
have a stronger tendency to smoke, drink alcohol, over eat, or bite his or her nails.
Personality wise, these individuals may become overly dependent upon others,
gullible, and perpetual followers. On the other hand, they may also fight these urges
and develop pessimism and aggression toward others.

8.
Discuss how various adult character traits and disorders reflect the effects of
the anal psychosexual stage.
ANS. The childs focus of pleasure in this stage is on eliminating and retaining
feces. Through societys pressure, mainly via parents, the child has to learn to
control anal stimulation. In terms of personality, after effects of an anal fixation
during this stage can result in an obsession with cleanliness, perfection, and control
(anal retentive). On the opposite end of the spectrum, they may become messy and
disorganized (anal expulsive).

9.

Describe the characteristics of the id, ego, and superego.

ANS. The id, ego, and superego represent different structures of the personality.
The id is the oldest and original structure. It includes our genetic inheritance,
reflexes, and instincts and drives that motivate us. It operates according to the
pleasure principle and uses primary processes. The ego develops in order to
realistically meet the wishes of the id. It follows the reality principle and operates
according to secondary processes. The superego consists of a conscience and the
ego-ideal. It strives for perfection.
10.

Describe the Oedipus complex and the Electra complex.

ANS. Oedipus complex", believed that the Oedipus complex is a desire for the
parent in both males and females; he deprecated the term "Electra complex", which
was introduced by Carl Gustav Jung in regard to the Oedipus complex manifested in
young girls.
11.

Distinguish among reality anxiety, neurotic anxiety, and moral anxiety.

ANS. Reality Anxiety the most basic form, rooted in reality.e.g Fear of a dog bite,
fear arising from an impending accident. Neurotic Anxiety : Anxiety which arises

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from an unconscious fear that the libidinal impulses of the Id will take control at an
in opportune time. This type of anxiety is driven by a fear of punishment that will
result from expressing the Id's desires without proper sublimation. Moral
Anxiety:Anxiety which results from fear of violating moral or societal codes, moral
anxiety appears as guilt or shame
12.
Describe the function of defense mechanisms. Give examples of at least five
defense mechanisms.
ANS. In order to protect us against anxiety, the ego develops defense mechanisms
that occur on an unconscious level and deny or distort reality so as to make it less
threatening. Some of the more common defense mechanisms are repression, denial,
projection, reaction formation, regression, rationalization, identification,
displacement, and sublimation. Freud believed that by strengthening the ego we
can become more aware of our impulses and deal with them more effectively.
13.

Describe the process of classical Freudian psychoanalysis.

ANS. Freud's psychoanalysis emphasizes the importance of the transference (p.

53), in which the patient transfers to the analyst emotional attitudes felt as a child
toward significant persons. The patient repeats with the analyst infantile and
ineffective ways of relating to other people. The analysis permits the patient to reexperience and rework these relationships to a more satisfactory resolution.
14.

Discuss some efforts to test Freuds concepts empirically.

ANS. Efforts to test Freud's concepts have been made, and the results are mixed. It
is difficult to translate many of his concepts into operational procedures that allow
for an unequivocal test.
15.
Describe recent research using technology to evaluate the neuroscientific
basis of Freuds theories.
ANS.

16.
Besides psychotherapy, in what types of interpersonal relationships is
transference evident?
ANS.

17.
What aspects of Freuds theory reflect nineteenth-century science and
philosophy and would require revising to remain viable in the twenty-first century?
ANS.

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18.
To what extent is classical psychoanalysis viable in contemporary culture, and
what is the best way to adapt or change it?
ANS.

19.
How might Freuds developmental theory be revised to address more
accurately and fairly the development of girls and women?
ANS.

20.
How might Freuds developmental theory be revised to address more
accurately and fairly the development of individuals who are not raised in nuclear,
two-parent (so-called traditional) homes?
ANS.