Psychoanalytic Theory

Basic Freudian Propositions

Clinical Experiences
Anna O. (Breuer)
Unexpressed emotion -> pathology
Unaware of emotion (unconscious)
Emotion expression reduces
pathology

Fundamental Assumptions of
Psychoanalytic Theory

The Basic Instincts

Unconscious Motivation
Psychic Determinism
Energy Model

Fundamental Assumptions of
Psychoanalytic Theory
The Basic Instincts: Sex and Aggression
Closely follows Darwins theory
Freud believed that everything humans do can
be understood as manifestations of the life
and death instincts
Later termed libido (life) and thanatos (death)

Fundamental Assumptions of
Psychoanalytic Theory
Unconscious Motivation
Individuals control their sexual and
aggressive urges by placing them in the
unconscious
These take on a life of their own and become
the motivated unconscious

Fundamental Assumptions of
Psychoanalytic Theory
Psychic Determinism

Nothing happens by chance or accident

Everything we do, think, say, and feel is an

expression of our mind

Fundamental Assumptions of
Psychoanalytic Theory
Energy Model

Humans are viewed as energy systems

Hydraulic model. Energy transformed but not

destroyed

Levels of Consciousness
Conscious - current awareness
Preconscious - not aware of material but its
retrievable (via ordinary retrieval)
Unconscious - not aware of material but its not
retrievable (via ordinary retrieval)

Issues Regarding the

Unconscious
How can the existence of the unconscious
be demonstrated?
Why do humans have an unconscious?

Personality and Psychoanalysis

Techniques for Revealing the Unconscious
Free Association
Dream Analysis
Projective Techniques
Recovered Memories

The Structure of Personality

ID

EGO

SUPEREGO

The Structure of Personality

The Id Reservoir of Psychic Energy
Most

primitive part of the mind; what we

are born with
Source of all drives and urges
Operates according to the pleasure principle
and primary process thinking

The Structure of Personality

The Ego- Executive of Personality
The

part of the mind that constrains the id

to reality
Develops around 2-3 years of age
Operates according to the reality principle
and secondary process thinking
Mediates between id, superego, and
environment

The Structure of Personality

The Superego- Upholder of Values and Ideals
The

part of the mind that internalizes the

values, morals, and ideals of society
Develops around age 5
Not bound by reality

Psychodynamics
Conflict model
Id vs. superego; Individual vs. society
Restrain expression of all drives
Surplus energy results in anxiety

Defense Mechanisms
Unconscious psychological processes
designed to avoid or reduce the
conscious experience of anxiety

Anxiety and the

Mechanisms of Defense
Repression
Unconscious
Motivated
Forgetting

The process of preventing

unacceptable thoughts,
feelings, or urges from
reaching conscious awareness

Anxiety and the

Mechanisms of Defense
Denial
Unconscious
Motivated
Not Perceiving

Perceptual Defense Research

Anxiety and the

Mechanisms of Defense
Other Defense Mechanisms

Reaction Formation
Act

opposite of impulse

Projection
Make

impulse external

Anxiety and the

Mechanisms of Defense
Other Defense Mechanisms

Isolation/Intellectualization
Isolate

emotional reaction

Process

abstractly

Anxiety and the

Mechanisms of Defense
Other Defense Mechanisms
Displacement
Channel impulse to non-threatening target
Sublimation
Channel impulse into socially desired
activity

Anxiety and the

Mechanisms of Defense
Defense Mechanisms in Everyday Life
Useful

in coping with unexpected or

disappointing events

Can

also make circumstances worse

Personality and Psychoanalysis

Making the Unconscious Conscious

Techniques for Revealing the Unconscious

The Process of Psychoanalysis

Personality and Psychoanalysis

The goal of psychoanalysis is to make the
unconscious conscious
Identify

unconscious thoughts and feelings

Enable the person to deal with the
unconscious urges realistically and
maturely
But how to penetrate the unconscious
mind?

Personality and Psychoanalysis

The Process of Psychoanalysis
The

psychoanalyst offers the patient

interpretations of the psychodynamic causes
of the problems
The interpretations bring insight
Resistance may occur as a defense
Transference of feelings

Evaluating Freuds Contributions

Proponents argue it is the first and perhaps

only comprehensive theory of human nature

Psychoanalysis has had a major impact on

Western thought

Critics maintain it is not contemporary

The nature of evidence upon which it was
built can be criticized

Emphasis on sexual drives is inappropriate

Summary
There

are 3 main forces in the psyche that

constantly interact to tame the 2 motives

Defense

mechanisms help keep urges,

thoughts, and memories that cause anxiety
in the unconscious

Psychoanalysis

is a therapy used for making

the patient's unconscious conscious

Anxiety and the

Mechanisms of Defense
Types of Anxiety
Repression
Other Defense Mechanisms
Defense Mechanisms in Everyday Life

Anxiety and the

Mechanisms of Defense
Types of Anxiety

Objective Anxiety
Neurotic Anxiety
Moral Anxiety
Defense Mechanisms