Phycoanalisis
What is it?
Psychoanalysis suggests that people can experience catharsis and gain insight into their current state of mind by bringing the content of the unconscious into conscious awareness.
Basic Tents
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A person's behavior is influenced by their unconscious drives.
Emotional and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety are often rooted in conflicts between the conscious and unconscious mind.
Personality development is heavily influenced by the events of early childhood
People use defense mechanisms to protect themselves from information contained in the unconscious.
Milestones
1856 – Sigmund Freud was born
1882 – Josef Breuer described the case of Anna O to Freud
1886 – Freud first began providing therapy
1895 – Anna Freud was born
1900 – Sigmund Freud published his book The Interpretation of Dreams
1896 – Sigmund Freud first coined the term psychoanalysis
1908 – The Vienna Psychoanalytic Society was formed and the first international meeting of psychoanalysts was held
1909 – Freud made his first and only trip to the United States
1910 – The International Psychoanalytic Association was formed
1913 – Jung broke from Freud and psychoanalysis
1938 – The Vienna Psychoanalytic Society was dissolved
1939 – Sigmund Freud died in London following a long battle with oral cancer
Major thinkers
Sigmund Freud
Anna Freud
Founder of psychoanalysis
Erik Erikson
Erich Fromm
Carl Jung
The Conscious and Unconscious Mind
Unconscious
Conscious
Thoughts, urges, or feelings that are unpleasant, difficult, or even socially unacceptable.
Buried because they can bring about pain or conflict.
Can sometimes be brought into awareness using certain techniques.
The Future of Psychoanalysis
Thoughts, feelings, and urges that we are aware of or can easily bring into awareness.
Not hidden or suppressed.
May be influenced by unconscious thoughts, feelings, or memories.
The Id, Ego, and Superego
Ego
Superego
Id
Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and the psychodynamic . Freud believed that the human mind was composed of three elements
Freud's observations and theories were based on clinical cases and case studies.
The id contains all of the unconscious, basic, and primal urges
This is the part of the personality that must deal with the demands of reality. It helps control the urges of the id and makes us behave in ways that are both realistic and acceptable
It contains our ideals and values. The values and beliefs that our parents and society instill in us are the guiding force of the superego and it strives to make us behave according to these morals
This made his findings difficult to generalize to the larger population.
The Ego's Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are strategies that the ego uses to protect itself from anxiety
In freuds therapy people are able to feel safe as they explore feelings, desires, memories, and stressors that can lead to psychological difficulties.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Even though most psychodynamic theories did not rely on experimental research, the methods and theories of psychoanalytic thinking contributed to the development of experimental psychology.
Many of the theories of personality developed by psychodynamic thinkers, such as Erikson's theory of psychosocial stages and Freud's psychosexual stage theory, continue to influence the field today.
Psychoanalysis opened up a new view on mental illness, particularly that talking through problems with a psychoanalytic professional could help alleviate a person's psychological distress.
Weaknesses
Freud's theories overemphasized the unconscious mind, sex, aggression, and childhood experiences.
Many of the concepts proposed by psychoanalytic theorists are difficult to measure and quantify.
Most of Freud's ideas were based on case studies and clinical observations rather than empirical, scientific research.
There are a few things that psychoanalysis as a field can do to ensure its continued relevance in the world of psychology
Place a greater emphasis on scientific research and empirical evidence.
Explore evidence-based treatments in greater depth.
Improve data-gathering methods.
Give greater consideration of other possible explanations for behavior.
Collaborate actively with other mental health professionals.