Contemporary Psychoanalytic Approaches Flashcards
What part’s have we kept and let go of Freud’s theory?
Desire to keep the parts of Freudian theory
that work
– Unconscious influences
– Behavior reflects conflicts between desires and
societal norms
– Childhood influences adulthood
– Unconscious (implicit) representations of self and
others guide relationships
But cut the parts that don’t work
– Unconscious is all about sex
– Psychosexual stages
Freud’s Repression and Contemporary view of Repressed Memories?
Freud’s view: unacceptable thoughts pushed into the unconscious
- Very difficult to prove whether a recovered memory is true
- It is possible to implant memories of
mundane events - Traumatic events tend to be
particularly memorable
Repressed Memories: Conclusion?
- Very difficult to prove whether a
recovered memory is true - It is possible to implant memories of
mundane events - Traumatic events tend to be
particularly memorable - Yet, many therapists still encourage
patients to uncover repressed
memories of trauma
– Patients whose therapists suggest this are
20 times more likely to report a previously
repressed memory of abuse - Therapists’ suggestion may lead to
false memories - Or… therapists help patients recall
real instances of abuse
Modern view of the Unconscious: Motivated vs. Cognitive?
– Motivated view: We bury hidden needs/desires
in the unconscious
– Cognitive view: information perceived may
become unconscious and influence us, but it’s
not “buried” there
* Similar to Freud’s pre-conscious
Subliminal Priming?
- The cognitive Unconscious
- Concepts may be perceived and influence
us, without our even knowing it - But, not clear that subliminal
priming of concepts actually
influences BEHAVIOR
Priming and Advertising (Lipton study + most effective)?
- Lipton Ice Tea study
– Participants subliminally primed with tea or
nonsense words
– Results:
More likely to buy tea over other drink
But, ONLY if thirsty to begin with - Most effective priming is when product
is embedded (product placement)
– If it’s subtle, observer is engrossed in film/TV,
so can’t use cognitive resources to prevent the
impact of the ad
Modern view od the ego, Anna Freud & Erik Erikson?
– Students of Freud
* More complex view of ego
* Focus on the strengths of conscious self
* Control over one’s environment
– Goal is to establish a secure identity
– Failure to do so creates identity crisis
* Beginning of research on the Self
Erikson’s 8 Stages of Development, how is it different and similar to Freud’s psychosexual development?
- Different from Freud’s psychosexual
development
– Cover the full lifespan
– Allow for development during “latency” and
adulthood - Similar to Freud’s
– Each stage marked by conflict
– Failure to resolve conflict leads to fixation, or
crisis
Narcissistic Paradox?
People who seem to
think they’re great may feel insecure
underneath
– Narcissism is a defense
* Reaction formation
Narcissism in DSM and non-clinical setting?
- DSM characteristics: grandiosity,
dominance, entitlement, superiority - In normal (non-clinical) populations,
characterized by self-enhancement
– i.e., excessively positive view of self and
negative view of others
– bragging, egotism, superiority, derogation of
others, entitlement
What Causes Narcissism?
- Parents over-idealize child, set up
unrealistic standards - Simultaneously, they excessively criticize
child for failing to meet unrealistic
standards - “Narcissistic wound” – early humiliation
experience - Narcissists overcompensate for
insecurities by self-aggrandizing
Measuring Narcissism, (4)?
- Unrealistically positive beliefs about abilities and achievements
- Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, and beauty
- Strong sense of entitlement
- Grandiose sense of self-importance
Narcissism and Therapy?
- Narcissists typically go to therapy for
external life problems
– Work
Repeated failures
Not living up to their own career expectations
– Love
Idealization and devaluation of romantic partners
Always need to be center of attention
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is very difficult to treat in therapy
Research Findings on Normal-Range Narcissism - what do they do?
- Look in the mirror more frequently
- Take credit for their accomplishments but
blame others for their failures - Self-promote more on social-networking
sites like Facebook - Tend to adopt a ‘game-playing’ style in
relationships - Become angry and aggressive in
response to failure or negative feedback
– But, new research suggests, more likely to admit
shame after success
Narcissism as Pathology
* Two types?
– Grandiose Narcissist
– Fragile narcissist
