PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY

Foundations and Applications

Sigmund Freud, Father of Psychoanalysis (1856-1939)

Human nature is basically deterministic.

Progression through the psychosexual stages during the first six years of life will determine much of one’s development.

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exploring the life of Freud, please

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History of Psychoanalysis: Three Phases (Fine, 1979)

3. End of WWII to present: Still a large “following” worldwide and the expansion of psychoanalytic theory beyond Freud.

1. Emergence of Psychoanalysis prior to WW I (dominated by Freud)

2. 1918-1939: emergence of many psychoanalytic facilities and establishment of the American Psychoanalytic Association

Goal of Counseling:Resolution of

problems by working through unresolved

issues and exploration of

unconscious material as it relates to the

client-analyst relationship

. http://www.apsa.org/ABOUTPSYCHOANALYSIS/ASKAPSYCHOANALYST/TREATMENT/tabid/255/Default.aspx

)

By clicking on the hyperlink, you can go to a webpage where clients post questions regarding the therapist-client relationship and treatment and receive responses from professional members of the American Psychoanalytic Association

View of Human NatureDeterministic

Behavior is determined by:Irrational Forces

Unconscious Motivations

Biological and Instinctual Drives

Instincts serve the purpose of the survival of the individual and are oriented towards:

Growth

Development

Creativity

Four psychoanalytic psychologies:

Freud’s drive theory

Ego psychology

Object Relations

Self psychology

EGO PSYCHOLOGY

Major player: Heinz Kohut (1913-1981)

Other players: Mahler

Emphasis on narcissism

Believes love for self precedes love for others

EGO PSYCHOLOGY

Key Players:

Anna Freud

Heinz Hartmann

Erik Erikson (most well-known for this theory)

Goals of Psychotherapy in Ego Psychology

Seeing the world as it is, without too much distortion from inner distress and transference.Ego psychologists try to help clients interpret other’s statements and actions without utilizing a defense mechanismAttempt to build ego strength, the capacity of the ego to pursue its healthy goals in spite of threat and stress.

Object Relations-Attachment Theory

Objects are mental representations of other people and relationships with others.It is a stage theory that focuses on the process of becoming an independent individual and seeing people as stable, complex, and real.Responsiveness of the mother is critical.Throughout therapy, the client renounces judgment of others and self, realizing that variation can exist within one person.

Goals of Object Relations Psychotherapy

To revise impaired object representationsTo free up the ego to pursue its healthy functions.Shares with other psychodynamic approaches the mission of enhancing ego strength.

Freud’s Drive Theory

Freud believed that all human behavior is driven by innate instincts, or drives.Drives can either be self-preservative (breathing, eating, etc.) or species-preservative (sexuality).Libido: the psychic energy that emanates from sexual drives; always seeks pleasure

Structure of Personality; 3 Systems

Id: The primary source of psychic energy and the seat of instincts; Largely unconscious; Ruled by the pleasure principle

Ego: the “Executive” that governs, controls, and regulates personality. Ruled by the reality principle.

Superego: Represents the “ideal”, not the real. Morals, right/wrong, conscience

Levels of ConsciousnessConscious: includes sensations and experiences that you are aware of.

Preconscious: memories that are easily remembered

Unconscious: memories that are “forgotten”

Evidence Supporting the UnconsciousDreams: Symbolic representations of unconscious needs, wishes and conflicts

Slips of the Tongue & Forgetting

Posthypnotic Suggestions

Material Derived from:Free-Association

Projective Techniques

Symbolic Content of Psychotic Symptoms

Another essential concept…..

ANXIETY

A state of tension that motivates action

Result of conflict between id, ego, & superego

3 kinds: reality (fear of danger); neurotic (fear that instincts will cause you to do something for which you are punished); moral (fear of one’s own conscience)

Ego Defense Mechanisms

Repression

Denial

Reaction formation

Projection

Displacement

Rationalization

Sublimation Regression

Introjection

Identification

Compensation

Freud & EriksonDrive Ego

Oral Stage: Dependency on mother for gratification--involves lips, mouth, & throat

Anal Stage: Anal zone becomes major source of interest--dev. tasks=learning independence, power & control

Phallic Stage: Source of sexual gratification comes from genitals--conflict centers on unconscious incestuous desires--Oedipus complex & Electra complex

Infancy: Trust vs Mistrust -- significant others important

Early Childhood: Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt -- struggle b/w sense of self-reliance & self-doubt

Preschool: Initiative vs. Guilt -- Basic task is to achieve a sense of comptence and initiative

Freud & EriksonDrive EgoLatency Stage: Relatively quiet period -- sexual interest replaced by focus on socializationGenital Stage: Begins with puberty and lasts until senility -- movement towards freedom from parental influence and capacity to care for others -- sexual energy directed towards others, rather than self-love

School Age: Industry vs. Inferiority -- setting and attaining personal goals = basic taskAdolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion -- transitional time, conflicts center on clarification of identityYoung Adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation -- developmental task is to form intimate relationships

3 Phases of the Therapeutic Process

Initial Stage: Interpretation, analysis of resistance, analysis of transference

Working Through: Client becomes more free in thought and speech, gains insight into how past influences present.

Final Stage: Termination – Benefits of therapy discussed.

Counselor’s Role in TreatmentCounselor assumes a “blank screen” approach

and attempts to foster a transference relationship so that the client can “work through” the developmental issue that is problematic. Goal is to foster self-awareness and to help clients’ engage in the process of uncovering unconscious material.

Therapy is typically intense and long-term!

Therapeutic Goals

To make the unconscious conscious

To strengthen the ego so that behavior is based more on reality and less on instinctual cravings or irrational guilt

Counseling Interventions

Free Association

Analysis of dreams

Analysis of transference

Analysis of resistance

Interpretation

Client’s ExperienceClients must be willing to commit to an intensive, long-term therapy process

Successful analysis answers the client’s “why” questions regarding his or her life

Supporting Research

Fisher & Greenberg (1977) examined 2,000 individual studies involving psychoanalysis.Freudian Theory has been subjected to more scientific appraisal than any other theory.Useful for clients who need to explore the role of early childhood events and the impact of these experiences .

Limitations of Psychoanalysis

Appeals to the educated middle- to upper-class clients able to afford long-term treatment

True psychoanalysis can only be conducted by trained professionals ($$$)

Long-terms therapies are not as popular as newer brief therapy models

Requires client commitment of time, $$$, and effort

Who uses which theory:Freud’s drive theory only = classical or traditional theorists

Systematic approach (combining 2,3, or 4 theories) = listening perspective which selects the best theory for a specific disorder.

Object relations seems to be a more user-friendly approach within the psychodynamic paradigm

PSYCHOANALYTIC APPLICATIONS

Treatment of Hysteria

(Hypnosis)

Childhood Anxiety

Borderline Disorders

Narcissistic Disorders (due to problems with insufficient attention from parent early on)

Eating Disorders

Current Trends & Issues

Treatment Manuals: Because of the long and intense nature of psychoanalysis, there has been a recent effort to create “how-to” manuals to make the treatment more popular and comprehensible.

Two person vs. one person: A shift from focus on the client to focus on how the patient and therapist influence each other. More empathic and interactive than traditional psychoanalysis.

Gender Issues

Tends to make sexist generalizations about women

Great emphasis on the child-mother relationships

Concern about same-sex or opposite sex therapists

Multicultural IssuesFreud’s work was vulnerable to social and cultural factors

Erikson (Psychosocial) was very devoted to cross cultural concerns and addressed them in his research

Modern psychoanalysts have made recent efforts to reach out to diverse populations and confront treatment issues (bilingualism, skin color, cultural animosity, etc.)