Psychoanalytic Therapy (Week 2) Flashcards
What is eros/libido?
The life drive (toward procreation, social cooperation, survival)
What is thanatos?
The death drive (prompts aggression, risky behvior, reliving trauma)
What is repression?
(A defense mechanism.)
Subconsciously blocking ideas or impulses that are undesirable. This defense mechanism may be present in someone who has no recollection of a traumatic event, even though they were conscious and aware during the event.
What is suppression?
(A defense mechanism)
Choosing to block ideas or impulses that are undesirable, as opposed to repression, a subconscious process. This defense mechanism may be present in someone who has intrusive thoughts about a traumatic event but pushes these thoughts out of their mind.
What is denial?
(A defense mechanism.) Dismissing external reality and instead focusing on internal explanations or fallacies and thereby avoiding the uncomfortable reality of a situation. This defense mechanism may be present in someone who continues to shop for expensive designer clothes despite being in serious financial debt
What is projection?
(A defense mechanism.)
Attributing one’s own maladaptive inner impulses to someone else. For example, someone who commits an episode of infidelity in their marriage may then accuse their partner of infidelity or may become more suspicious of their partner.
What is displacement?
(A defense mechanism.)
Transferring one’s emotional burden or emotional reaction from one entity to another. This defense mechanism may be present in someone who has a stressful day at work and then lashes out against their family at home.
What is sublimation?
(A defense mechanism.) Transforming one’s anxiety or emotions into pursuits considered by societal or cultural norms to be more useful. This defense mechanism may be present in someone who channels their aggression and energy into playing sports. Considered to be a healthier defense mechanism.
What is introjection/identification?
(A defense mechanism.)
The internalization or reproduction of behaviors observed in others, such as a child developing the behavior of his or her parents without conscious realization of this process.
Dr. Cornett describes as us taking other peoples’ characterizations of us and making them our own.
What is reaction formation?
(A defense mechanism.)
Replacing one’s initial impulse toward a situation or idea with the opposite impulse. This defense mechanism may be present in someone who teases or insults a romantic interest whom they like. Conversely, this mechanism may be present in someone who is overly kind to someone whom they dislike.
What is undoing?
(A defense mechanism.)
Occurs when a person tries to cancel out or remove an unhealthy, destructive or otherwise threatening thought or action by engaging in contrary behavior. For example, after thinking about being violent with someone, one would then be overly nice or accommodating to them.
Implies more shame than reaction formation.
What is rationalization?
(A defense mechanism.)
The justification of one’s behavior through attempts at a rational explanation. This defense mechanism may be present in someone who steals money but feels justified in doing so because they needed the money more than the person from whom they stole.
What is intellectualization?
(A defense mechanism.)
The development of patterns of excessive thinking or over-analyzing, which may increase the distance from one’s emotions. For example, someone diagnosed with a terminal illness does not show emotion after the diagnosis is given but instead starts to research every source they can find about the illness.
What is the ego?
Executive mediating between id impulses and superego inhibitions; testing reality; rational
Operates mainly at conscious level but also at preconscious level.
This is the tip of the iceberg above water.
Produces mature, adaptive behavior
What is the superego?
Ideals and morals, ethics, values
Striving for perfection
Incorporated from parents
Becoming a person’s conscience
Operates mostly at preconscious level
