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psych310 > Lecture 4: Psychodynamic Perspectives > Flashcards

Lecture 4: Psychodynamic Perspectives Flashcards

1
Q

Myths about psychanalysis

A
  • Psychoanalysis is the work of one man
  • Contemporary psychoanalysis is the same as it was in Freud’s day
  • Psychoanalysis has gone out of fashion
  • There is NO evidence for psychoanalysis
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2
Q

The American Psychological Association says…

A
  • Psychodynamic theory is highly effective
  • The benefits are at least as large as those of other psychotherapies and they last
  • Benefits of the therapy grow after treatment has ended
  • Lasting benefits through self-knowledge
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3
Q

The Lancet Psychiatry 2015 (Leichsenring et al. 2015)

A
  • Identified 64 randomised controlled trials that provide evidence for efficacy of PDT in common mental health disorders
  • “Suggest PDT is as efficacious as treatments established in efficacy”
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4
Q

And…

A
  • “Still the most coherent and intellectually satisfying view of the mind” (Kandel)
  • Resists being drawn into the ‘quick fix’ mentality governed by economic concerns
  • Asserts a continuity between normal & ‘abnormal’ behaviour
  • Goes beyond symptom removal to dev. of positive capacities + relationships
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5
Q

Origins of Psychoanalysis

A
  • Freud (1856-1939) a neurologist in Vienna
  • Since then, there have been thousands of academic + clinical papers written in this area and dev. of many of related theories + approaches (including contemporary versions)
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6
Q

The unconscious

A
  • We commonly experience a ‘divided self’ e.g. “I expect more of myself”
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7
Q

The topographical model

A
  • The conscious = that which we know
  • The preconscious = that which we can bring to mind
  • The unconscious = that which we do not know
    = feelings/thoughts that we are unaware of
    = actively represeed into unconscious
    = continue to influence us without our awareness
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8
Q

The topographical model (cont.)

A
  • Conscious is just the tip of the iceberg
  • We ‘know’ the unconscious through…
    1) Dreams = the royal road to the unconscious (manifest + latent content)
    2) Slips of the tongue (Freudian slips) = parapraxes
    3) Symptoms e.g. compulsive hand washing reveals an unconscious fear of being contaminated
    4) Art & play
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9
Q

Implications of unconscious for therapy

A
  • Encourage ‘free association’ = open talking space
  • Listening below the surface for unconscious meaning
  • Explore possible meanings with patient through questioning
  • Use interpretations to develop insight about unconscious motives
  • Insight brings catharsis & relief
  • Awareness allows possibility of choice & change
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10
Q

The ID, Ego and Superego (the structural model)

A
  • ID = contains primitive drives (sexual + aggressive)
    = Operates according to the ‘Pleasure Principle’
  • Ego = mediates between other parts of mind & external world
    = Operates according to the ‘Reality Principle’
  • Superego = develops last & helps us to negotiate the moral demands of society
    = Operates according to the ‘Morality Principle’
  • Results in conflict = unacceptable feelings/thoughts are held back from consciousness
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11
Q

Defences

A
  • Unconscious conflict causes anxiety and we respond by shoring up the ego’s defences against unconscious material emerging into consciousness
  • Sometimes the anxiety comes out anyway and sometimes these defences create other problems for the person
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12
Q

Types of Defences

A

1) Denial = avoids anxiety by refusing to acknowledge an aspect of external reality
2) Projection = attributes unacceptable feelings to others
3) Displacement = directs impulses towards a more appropriate target
4) Reaction formation = acts in exact opposite way of impulse he/she is afraid to acknowledge
5) Intellectualisation = overly rational response aimed at distancing
6) Sublimation = expresses unacceptable wishes in socially acceptable ways

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13
Q

Implications of defences for PDT

A
  • Resistance to therapy
  • Set up a ‘working alliance’ with client (against stuff that is hard to get to)
  • Work close to what client can tolerate
  • Recognise & point out defences used in therapy
  • Allow time to ‘work through’ issues
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14
Q

The role of development & childhood experience

A
  • Person’s past helps to create their particular sets of unconscious associations (phantasy) e.g. being an unplanned pregnancy
  • Personal history gives clues about what experiences may have been seen as painful/difficult
  • Events are seen & experienced through eyes of a child - at a particular developmental level
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15
Q

Children’s phantasis

A

“My parents are the world”

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16
Q

Repetition of relationship patterns (transference)

A
  • Most powerful childhood experiences are those that occurs in our primary relationships
  • These relationship experiences create ‘blueprints’ for later relationships
  • Relationship patterns may be functional/dysfunctional
17
Q

Implications of development for psychdynamic therapy

A
  • Find out about past history
  • Determine whether there are unconscious anxieties related to particular developmental levels
  • Explore relationship patterns
  • Transference: the transfer & repetition of early relationships in the therapy relationship
  • Therapists own early relationships also influence the way they relate to a client - ‘counter-transference’
18
Q

How does psychoanalysis explain the development of psychological problems?

A
  • A ‘divided self’ creates the potential for conflict which in turn creates anxiety
  • Conflicts are shaped by interaction of childhood experiences and our developmental needs
  • Defence mechanisms try to push away conflicts & deal with anxiety but sometimes creates further problems
  • We end up with patterns of behaviour, thought and feelings which are unconsciously motivates and we do not fully understand
19
Q

How does psychodynamic therapy work?

A
  • Encourage free association to get access to unconscious material
  • Use the transference to understand unconscious relationship patterns as they are expressed in therapy relationship
  • Use interpretation & questioning to generate insight into the source of unconscious anxiety
  • Make the unconscious conscious - create freedom + choice
20
Q

More recent therapies

A
  • Target present relationships (in therapy + outside) - rather than past relationships
  • Briefer and more focussed on a particular problem e.g. loss
  • More active therapist (e.g. Inter-Personal Therapy)
21
Q

Critiques

A
  • Early reliance of case study method (also its strength)
  • Theory untestable - concepts too abstract
  • Theory is unfalsifiable
  • Some say limited evidence of treatment efficacy - but this is debatable
  • Debate on whether psychoanalysis has a place in modern mental health care

psych310 (23 decks)

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