Freud and Psychoanalysis Counseling Theories with Dr. Sparrow

Central Concepts Structure of the Psyche The Role of Defense Mechanisms Stages of Psychosexual or Psychosocial Development The Therapeutic Relationship

Structure of the Psyche The Id -- all there is at birth The Ego -- the conscious self The Superego -- conscience, parental and social injunctions All share the energy of the psyche: the libido, which is the energy of sex, aggression and the instincts

The Id Source of psychic energy Lacks organization, governed by the pleasure principle -- If it feels good, do it. Insistent and demanding Largely unconscious

The Ego Conscious self Contact with the outer world Mediates between impulses of the Id and the restrictions of the Superego Anxiety arises as ego fears instincts (neurotic anxiety), or the conscience (moral anxiety) Ruled by the reality principle

The Superego All rules and “shoulds” that govern a person’s life -- authored by parents and society Can be excessive if parents were too harsh, or society too puritanical Experienced as an internal voice, or feelings of conscience, warning the ego not to engage in pleasureful activities.

The Ego’s Defenses Repression Denial Projection Reaction Formation Sublimation Introjection Rationalization Regression Compensation Identification Displacement

Stages of Psychosexual Development Oral -- first year of life -- trust Anal years -- power Phallic years -- incestuous urges give rise to Oedipal and Electra Complexes Latency years -- friendship and socialization Genital death -- sexual maturation, and the expression of sexual and aggressive energies in socially acceptable ways. Love, work and play.

Erickson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development Infancy (Oral) -- Trust vs. mistrust Early childhood (Anal) -- Autonomy vs. shame and doubt Pre-school (phallic) -- Initiative vs. guilt Beginning school to adolescence -- Industry vs. inferiority Adolescence -- Identity vs. role confusion

Erickson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development continued Young Adulthood -- Intimacy vs. Isolation Middle Age -- Generativity vs. stagnation Later Life -- Integrity vs. despair

The Goals of Therapy Making the unconscious conscious, to help strengthen the ego, so behavior can be based more on reality rather than unconscious cravings or irrational guilt. dreams hypnosis free association slips of the tongue and forgetting projective techniques

The Therapeutic Process Therapist remains neutral to draw out the transference projections Client needs to commit to saying whatever comes to mind -- fundamental rule. Therapist becomes substitute for parents “Working through” transference is the main goal -- helps clients become conscious of their unconscious dynamics

Therapeutic Techniques Analytic stance -- regularity of appointments, time frame Free Association Interpretation Dream Analysis -- Manifest content disguises latent content through “dream work.” Every symbol has a referent in waking life Analysis of resistance Analysis of Transference

Jung’s view of the psyche Criticism: Freud didn’t recognize the deeper levels of the unconscious, called the collective unconscious Universal themes and symbols, or archetypes -- world myths & religions all use the same motifs Future oriented, or teleological -- toward wholeness or “individuation,” or meaning. Dreams show the urge to become whole and to balance out the ego’s one-sidedness Dream symbols are not disguises; amplification is the technique used, not free association

Contemporary Trends in Psychoanalytic Therapy Object relations -- Objects are significant others that exist as images or objects in the mind Emphasis on ego or self, and how relationships with others develop our sense of self Countertransference useful as a way to learn about client Relational model between therapist and client therapist more active, open more equal relationship

The Developmental Process in Objects Relations Development is characterized by a gradual separation-differentiation of the child from the mother. If the process is interrupted by various things, such as an overly clinging mother, an overly idealized mother, or a rejecting mother, the child’s development is arrested.

The Developmental Process in Objects Relations -- Mahler Normal infantile autism first 3 or 4 weeks of life, no differentiated awareness Symbiosis, 3rd to 8th month -- infant has pronounced dependency on mother Separation-individuation -- child cycles from contact to exploration and idealizes others for praise and self esteem Narcissism or borderline personality develops when separation-individuation is thwarted

Summary: Contributions of Psychoanalytic Therapy The influence of the unconscious on behavior The function of anxiety The overuse of ego defense mechanisms The importance of transference and countertransference The analysis of resistance