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Flashcards in Psychoanalytical theory Deck (37)
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2
Q

What are (Freud’s psychoanalytical) drives?

A

Drives (or instinct) are basic motivators (unconscious). Including self-preservative drives (e.g breathing, eating, drinking, excreting) and species-preservative drives (e.g sexuality).

3
Q

What is psychic energy or libido?

A

The energy that emanates from drives (initially only ‘sexual’).

4
Q

What is the pleasure principle?

A

That human motivation is sexual in the broad sense that individuals are motivated to bring themselves pleasure, and avoid pain.

5
Q

What is the conscious, pre-conscious and unconscious?

A

Conscious - all the sensations and experiences that the person is aware of at any point in time.Pre-conscious - memories of events and experiences that can easily be retrieved with little effort. Bridge to the unconscious.Unconscious - is the container for memories that are threatening to the conscious mind and must be pushed away. E.g hostile or sexual feelings towards a parent

6
Q

In psychoanalytical (Freud) theory, how does the unconscious present itself and how do humans manage it?

A

Through dreams, Freudian slips, forgetting, behaviour and defence mechanisms.

7
Q

What is the primary process? What is the secondary process?

A

The primary process - is a means for forming an image of something that can reduce the thwarted drive.The secondary process - realistic thinking regarding how to satisfy one’s drives.

8
Q

Describe the psychoanalytical theory of personality structure. (i.e Id, Ego, Superego)

A

Three basic systems that function together as a whole: Id, ego, superego.ID - inherited and physiological forces/instincts (e.g hunger) non- conscious behaviour. Operates on the pleasure principle, through the primary process.Ego - mediates between the world and the individuals ID, follows the reality principle, through the secondary process. Function is to plan, test reality, think logically, develop plans for satisfying needs.Superego - collective social standards ( e.g what ones parents want). Non-rational seeks perfection and adherence to an ideal, inhibiting both the ego and the id.

9
Q

What is the name given to the investment of energy toward satisfying needs (by the ID)?What is the name given to the control of the ID’s energy investment by the ego?

A

Cathect(invest energy)/ cathexisAnticathexis

10
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what are defence mechanisms?

A

The ego’s denial or distortion of reality while operating on the unconscious level, to deal with anxiety (situations) that arise from conflict between the Id, ego and superego.Can have adaptive value in reducing stress, but if used frequently, the use becomes pathological and individuals develop a style of avoiding reality.

11
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism repression?

A

Removal of painful thoughts, memories or feelings from conscious awareness by excluding painful experiences or unacceptable impulses.

12
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism denial?

A

Distorting or not acknowledging what an individual thinks, feels or sees.

13
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism reaction formation?

A

Avoiding an unacceptable impulse by acting in the opposite extreme. By acting in a way that is opposite to the disturbing desires so as not to have to deal with the resulting anxiety. E.g women who hates her husband acting with excessive love and devotion.

14
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism Projection?

A

Attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to others. E.g an unhappily married man believes that all his friends are also unhappy in their marriages.

15
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism, displacement?

A

place (Act out on) their feelings onto someone or something that is safe. E.g not attacking the bully that is bigger than you, but attacking someone smaller.

16
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism, Sublimination?

A

modification of a drive into socially acceptable behaviour. E.g sport

17
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism Rationalization?

A

explaining away poor performance, a failure, or a loss - making up excuses to lessen anxiety and soften the disappointment

18
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism Regression?

A

To revert to a previous stage of development

19
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism Identification?

A

Taking on the characteristics or identity of others. E.g identifying with a winning team an individual can feel successful even though they made no contribution towards the success

20
Q

In psychoanalytical theory, what is the defence mechanism Intellectualisation?

A

When emotional issues are not dealt with directly, but rather are handled indirectly through abstract thought.

21
Q

List the psychosexual stages of development (According to Freud)

A

Oral (birth - 18 months)Anal stage (18 months - 3 years)Phallic stage (3 - 5/6)Latency (6-12)Genital (13+)

22
Q

What is ‘ego psychology’ (furthered by Anna Freud [children] and Erik Erikson [adulthood])

A

psychoanalytical psychology that also focuses therapeutic efforts towards the EGO and not just the ID

23
Q

What are some of the contributions Anna Freud made to psychoanalytical psychology? (name the two added mechanisms and added element of childhood development[ hint: ego] and describe what ‘defense against the reality’ pertains to.)

A

Two mechanisms:Alturism - ‘helpful to avoid feeling helpless’Identification with an aggressor - actively assuming a role one has been passively traumatised by. Added other measures for maturation such a moving from dependence to mastery (also known as ‘developmental lines), showing how as children develop that form a more ego-centered view of the world (Reality/rational view) - showing an increased emphasis on the ego.Defense against the reality - pertains to motivations that are not derived from internal drives alone but from the external world (the environment).

24
Q

What is ‘ego psychology’ and who were it’s two major contributors?

A

A development of psychoanalytical theory focused on children, developmental processes and what is normal.Anna Freud - ego development in children, additional defense mechanisms e.g., altruismErick Erickson - 8 stages of psychosocial development e.g infancy (trust v mistrust) linked to oral stage (e.g parents provide food) AND preschool (initiative v guilt): guilt because of anger towards same sex parent (e.g., desire for opposite sex)

25
Q

What is ‘object-relations’ psychology? (a further development of psychoanalytical theory)Who were it’s two main contributors?

A

A further development of psychoanalytical theory that focuses on child-parent relationship.Donald Winnicott Otto kernberg

26
Q

What did Donald Winnicott contribute to Object relations psychology? (psychoanalytical theory)

A

Concept of the “good enough mother” (parent adaptive)True self (distinction between parent and self)False self (opposite of true self)

27
Q

What did Otto Kernberg contribute to Object relations psychology? (psychoanalytical theory)

A

Borderline disorders (i.e unstable, self-harming)Splitting (fail to see ‘full picture’ of self and others)central part of DBR (dialectic behaviour therapy) by linehan

28
Q

What is Kohut’s self-psychology? (psychoanalytical)

A

Normal to be narcissistic at birthSelf grows in response to parental interactionsNormal versus abnormal developmentShares much with Roger’s person-centred counselling.

29
Q

What is ‘relational psychology’ (psychoanalytical)?

A

focus on therapist client interactionsTherapist knowledge of psychoanalysis helps clienttherapist doesn’t try to be objective.

30
Q

What are the further developments of psychoanalytical theory?

A

Ego-psychology (Anna Freud, Erik Erickson)Object-relations psychology (Donald Winnicott, Otto Kernberg)Kohut’s self-psychologyRelational Psychoanalysis

31
Q

What is the purpose of traditional psychoanalysis?(how long does it run for, how is the patient assessed, what is the focus of the treatment, techniques used and the nature of the counselling relationship)

A

4-5 sessions per week for 3-8 yearsAssessment = projective tests, dreams, childhood issuesFocus= Resolving unconscious conflict (perceive reality without the use of ego defenses)Techniques/relationship = Free association (unconscious becomes conscious), transference (e.g counsellor becomes a parent).

32
Q

What is the purpose of Psychoanalytic psychotherapy?(how long does it run for, how is the patient assessed, what is the focus of the treatment, techniques used and the nature of the counselling relationship)

A

Once a week for several yearsAims to resolve unconscious conflictstill use free association and assessment techniquesdisorders not severe (mild depression)

33
Q

Briefly outline what the empirical evidence says about Psychoanalytical therapies.

A

Psychanalytical therapies are not scientificAlmost no studies, little evidence, most evidence is case studies.Methodological issues in studying (long length, hard to define/measure concepts, non-manualised)

34
Q

What is the purpose of brief psychoanalytical therapy?(how long does it run for, how is the patient assessed, what is the focus of the treatment, techniques used and the nature of the counselling relationship)

A

Often 12-16 sessions over a few monthsstill aims to resolve unconscious conflictuses different techniques (ask questions, disagree, confront client, make suggestions)Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (three phases)1st: client becomes aware of conflict (4 sessions)2nd: unconscious origins (5-12 sessions)*3rd: termination of sessions (13-16 sessions)Shares much in common with CBT.

35
Q

In Anna Freud’s Ego Psychology, what are developmental lines?

A

The gradual development of various behaviour (children) (movement from ID-focused to EGO-focused), such as: dependence –> self-mastery, ego-centric –> otherfocused

36
Q

What are Erik Erickson’s 8 psychosocial stages?

A

infancy - Trust v mistrust (oral)
Early childhood - autonomy v shame & doubt (anal)
Preschoole - intiative v guilt (phallic)
School age - industry v inferiority (latency)
Adolescence - identity v. role confusion (genitial)
young adult - intimacy v isolation (genital)
Middle age - generativity v stagnation (genitial)
Later life - intergrity v despair (genitial)

37
Q

What is Donald Winnicotts (object-relations) concept of the “good enough” mother and the “true self vs. false self”?

A

A parent who is adaptive, understands the child and meets all their needs. But is not perfect, so the child can learn to tolerate frustration.

The true self is a concept of self distinct from one’s parent.

The false self is a failure to develop one’s own true self - instead they share their mothers self.

38
Q

In Kohut’s self-psychology, what is narcissism?

what is the ‘self’ ‘object’ and ‘selfobject’?

A

Narcissism is not considered maladaptive (as it is in Freuds view), rather it is considered a normal part of development that provides motivation.

self = the core or center of the person (motivation/initiative/personality)
object = e.g parent
selfobject - cluster of patterns and themes of unconsiouc sthoughts, images or representations of another.