Psychodynamic theories
Psychoanalysis (psychodynamic):
• Unconscious thoughts & emotions are brought
into awareness to be dealt with.
• Psychological problems – the result of
unconscious processes.
• Bringing unpleasant unconscious thoughts into
to consciousness, produces catharsis.
Psychoanalytic methods of therapy (there are 4):
• 1. Free Association – patient reports
anything that comes to his/her mind.
• The psychoanalyst listens for links &
themes that might tie the patient’s
fragmentary thoughts or remarks together.
Dream analysis:
• Dreams have two types of content:
• Manifest content- actual events in dream.
• Latent content – hidden message in dream.
• Freud thought that each dream represents
a form of wish fulfillment. The wish may be
disguised, but it is always there.
Transference
• Feelings of love or other emotions (hatred)
are expressed toward the therapist.
• These feelings are actually unconsciously
felt toward others; the patient is projecting
these feelings onto the therapist.
• This provides clues about the client’s
feelings about these other people.
Hypnosis
• Hypnosis is a psychoanalytic therapeutic
technique.
• Supposedly reaches into the subconscious
What are Criticisms of Freud’s theory?:
• 1. Freud had no scientific data to support his
theories. Theories aren’t scientific.
• 2. Freud’s theories (unconscious mind, etc.)
cannot be observed.
• 3. Theory explains behavior (post-hoc) after the
fact.
• 4. Observations not representative of
population (very sexist and not multicultural).
What are Pros (good) of Freud’s theory
• 1. childhood experiences are important in
development.
• 2. Information outside of awareness does
influence us.
• 3. Defense mechanisms—good descriptions of
some of our behaviors.
More psychoanalysts
• Who was Carl Jung? He was a psychoanalyst
who disagreed with Freud.
• 1. collective unconscious
• 2. archetypes
Carl Jung
• Less emphasis on social
factors.
• Focused on the
unconscious.
• We all have a collective
unconscious: a
shared/inherited well of
memory traces from our
species history.
Carl Jung
• Archetypes – certain symbols/literary
characters that we all recognize
• Ex: wise old man, witches, messiah
Alfred Adler
• Childhood is important to personality.
• But focus should be on social factorsnot sexual ones.
• Our behavior is driven by our efforts to
conquer inferiority and feel superior.
• Inferiority Complex (We strive to be
superior)
• Those that feel inferior develop an
avoiding style of life
• Everyone has an innate potential to
cooperate with others
• Environmental influences > biological
influences
Karen Horney - (Horn – EYE)
• Also agreed with Alfred Adler on the importance of
SOCIAL relationships during childhood (less of a focus
on the unconscious)
• Childhood anxiety is caused by a sense of helplessness;
children need love and security
• Opposed the concept of penis envy
• Developed the concept of neurosis: a driving need for
something or someone
– Neurosis is normal- gives people something to strive for,
however it can become abnormal when what we strive for
(or are obsessed with) interferes with our daily life
– Categories of neurosis: compliance (affection), aggression
(power), withdrawal (independence)
Psychodynamic testing
• Projective tests ask subject to interpret a
picture. Used only by psychoanalysts; are
subjective. Ex. TAT, Rorschach Ink blot test
TAT
Thematic Apperception Test
• A projective test which people
express their inner feelings through
stories they make about ambiguous
scenes
Thematic Apperception Test
TAT
Rorschach Inkblot Test
• The most widely used projective
test
•A set of ten inkblots designed to
identify people’s feelings when
they are asked to interpret what
they see in the inkblots.
Rorschach Inkblot Test
Rorschach Inkblot Test
Rorschach Inkblot Test
Rorschach Inkblot Test