Sigmund Freud Theories and Psychoanalytic Therapy

Presented by Arockia Dinesh F10001 Alphonsa Irene Fernando F10003 Binitha Mathews F10005 Biron DSouza F10006

Facts about Freuds Life

Born Jew but never liked Judaism Outstanding student in school Parents favored him over his siblings from the early stages of his childhood Vision of human psychology was derived, not altogether unconsciously, from his reading of the plays (Shakespeare) Believed that smoking enhanced his capacity to work

(died of buccal cancer)

Cocaine researched - his friend Von was a morphine addict Bruer-Freud-Anna.O- Hysteria

Freuds childhood influences

In his forties, Freud experienced several, probably psychosomatic, medical problems, including depression and heart irregularities

fuelled a superstitious belief that he would die at the age of 51

began exploring his own dreams, memories, and the dynamics of his personality development

During this self-analysis, he came to realize a hostility he felt towards his father
He also became convinced that he had developed sexual feelings towards his mother in infancy ("between two and two and a half years)

A psychologist argues that Freuds account of his self-analysis shows that he had
remembered only a long train journey, from whose duration he deduced that he might have seen his mother undressing, and that Freuds memory was an artificial reconstruction

Concept - The Unconscious Mind

According to Freud the mind can be divided into two parts:
The Conscious Mind what we are aware of; mental processing; thinking and talking rationally; memory also included from where we can recollect termed as preconscious The Unconscious Mind reservoir of feelings, thoughts, urges and emotions outside our conscious awareness; contents are mostly feelings of pain, anxiety; influences our behavior though we are unaware

Concept Id, Ego and Superego

According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality, personality is composed of three elements. These three elements of work together to create complex human behaviors: Id - source of all psychic energy; driven by pleasure principle; immediate gratification of desires, needs, wants; Eg. Hunger If we are ruled by the pleasure principle then we tend to grab things out of others hands to satisfy cravings. Primary Process: forming a mental image

Concept Id, Ego and Superego

Ego Component dealing with reality; develops from id and expressed in a manner acceptable; functions in the conscious preconscious and unconscious mind; based on the reality concept; weighs costs and benefits of an action before acting on impulse
Tension discharged by find a real object that meets the mental image created by Ids primary process

Concept Id, Ego and Superego

Superego - aspect of personality that holds internalized moral standards and ideals; acquired from both parents and society; sense of right and wrong; provides guidelines for making judgments; begins to emerge at around age five
Ego ideal: rules and standards for good behavior as per parents and society Conscience: information about bad, forbidden things as per parents and society

Superego is present in conscious, preconscious and unconscious mind

Concept Id, Ego and Superego

Stages of Psychosexual development

Freud states that personality develops by age 5 and early experiences determine our behavior. According to Freud if the psychosexual stages are completed successfully it leads to a healthy personality Stages are
Oral Stage birth to year 1 Anal Stage 1 to 3 yrs Phallic Stage 3 to 6 yrs Latent Period 6 yrs to puberty Genital Stage Puberty till death

Drawbacks of Psychosexual theory

Theory focused almost entirely on male development with little mention of female psychosexual development. Theories difficult to test scientifically. Concepts such as the libido are impossible to measure, and therefore cannot be tested. Future predictions are too vague. How can we know that a current behavior was caused specifically by a childhood experience? The length of time between the cause and the effect is too long to assume that there is a relationship between the two variables. Freud's theory is based upon case studies and not empirical research. Freud based his theory on the recollections of his adult patients, not on actual observation and study of children.

Psychoanalytic Therapy
Based upon the theories and work of Sigmund Freud, who founded the school of psychology known as psychoanalysis
Looks at how the unconscious mind influences thoughts and behaviors irrational drives Bringing drives into awareness - psychological resistance in the form of defence mechanisms. Influence of early childhood experiences Conflicts between conscious view of reality and unconscious material - mental disturbances Skilled guidance bring into consciousness

The History of Psychoanalytic Therapy

Freud began developing his therapeutic techniques in the late 1800s In1885, Freud began to study and work with Jean-Martin Charcot - Hypnosis Work and friendship with colleague Josef Breuer Anna O Talking cure - Talk therapy - studied by Freud

How Psychoanalytic Therapy Works

Talk therapy Patterns or significant events that may play a role in the clients current difficulties Belief that childhood events and unconscious feelings, thoughts and motivations play a role in mental illness and maladaptive behaviors Empathetic and nonjudgmental environment

Application
Anxiety disorders
phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder to assist the client in coming to terms with their own id impulses to recognize the origin of their current anxiety in childhood relationships that are being relived in adulthood

Depression
loss every child experiences when realizing separateness from parents early in childhood Recalling & untangling the fixations that have built up around it

Process & Techniques

Used to treat depression and anxiety disorders lengthy process often involving 2 to 5 sessions per week for several years Interpretation of the ink blot Dreams interpretation Free Association Freudian slips

Criticisms
Untestable All Freud's theories are built upon their own internal logic which cannot be proved either way. Internally consistent, yes, but externally un-provable. Thus, little or no scientific worth. No Predictive Value Even if we know that someone had no father figure against whom to compete for his mother's affection, what does that tell us about his future behaviour? Tiny Sample Theory not based on a large sample of people, or tested under experimental conditions with control groups, etc. Freud's patients were largely wealthy hysterical Victorian middle-class women in Vienna in the late 1800s. Therefore, from such a narrow group, the theory is applied universally. It is presented as an all-encompassing malecentred theory.

Criticisms
Neologisms Freud invented many new terms, but rarely defined exactly what he meant - thus open to such wide interpretation (but some would see that as its great attraction). The more vague the terms, then the more people are free to apply them to their own needs. Metaphysical abstract throughout - not testable via empirical methods. Personal Projection of Freud's own life, fantasies and conflict with his own father (Oedipus Complex).