What Psychoanalysis Is And How It Started
Psychoanalysis is often viewed as a particular kind of talk therapy pioneered by Sigmund Freud in the late 1800s. It generally focuses on the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind, as well as the id, ego, and superego as parts of the psyche. The significance of childhood events and dreams is often emphasized as well. If you’re interested in trying psychoanalysis for yourself, you could seek out a therapist in your local area who uses its principles or connect with a licensed mental health professional online.
What Is Psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis can be defined as a type of talk therapy for people with mild to moderate chronic emotional and mental concerns. It is generally based on psychoanalytic therapy and can be properly used for individual therapy, rather than couples or family therapy.
Psychoanalysis And Its Basis In Psychodynamic Therapy
Freudian psychoanalysis is generally the basis of psychodynamic therapy. The difference may be that Freud's theory of psychoanalysis was the starting point, and psychodynamic therapy usually includes theories and techniques from all the psychoanalysts who followed in his footsteps. Psychodynamic therapy is typically briefer than the traditional psychoanalysis Freud used, usually lasting for about 15 weekly sessions.
Goals Of Psychoanalysis
Some psychoanalysts suggest that this therapy should have no set goals, other than analyzing the patient. However, there can be advantages to setting specific goals, such as knowing whether the therapy is working and when it is complete. Most of the goals of psychoanalysis therapy fall into one of the following four categories:
Reducing or eliminating symptoms of a disorder
Gaining better life adjustment and the ability to function better in life
Changing the structure of the personality, becoming more independent, and increasing self-esteem
Coping with procedural difficulties, such as resolving transference neurosis (when the client transfers their emotional reaction to others onto the psychoanalyst) and uncovering and resolving basic emotional conflicts
Types Of Concerns That Can Be Addressed With Psychoanalysis
Many common psychological concerns can be addressed with psychoanalysis, including the following:
Phobias
Psychosomatic disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorders
Sexual challenges
Depression
Generalized anxiety
Self-destructive behavior
Identity and self-esteem challenges
Who Is The Father Of Psychoanalysis?
Freud is often referred to as the father and founder of psychoanalysis. The Freudian theory of psychoanalysis grew throughout Freud's lifetime and continued to develop over the years as new psychoanalysts built on his work. Traditional psychoanalysis has generally diminished in popularity to some extent, mainly due to professionals in the academic and clinical environment considering it to be irrelevant. However, some psychoanalysts still practice it, and many more practice therapies based on its principles.
Freudian Psychoanalysis Theory
For Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis theory generally started in 1885, as he was trying to put together a method for patients who experienced neurosis. The theory may have existed before Freud, but it was generally not well-known or widely used. Freud's work is often considered to be at the heart of the main foundations and components of psychoanalysis. Freud wrote many books expounding his theories, with example after example of psychoanalysis described in detail.
Components Of Psychoanalysis Theory
Freudian psychology normally views mental processes from several distinct perspectives: topographical, dynamic, economic, structural, genetic, developmental, and adaptational.
Topographical
The topographical system may recognize the conscious, unconscious, and preconscious parts of the mental process. Modern psychoanalysis usually notes the historical significance of the topographical system, but it is rarely used now except to explain how the mind may work.
Dynamic
The dynamic theory can be considered the psychology of conflict. In psychoanalysis, the primary concern is usually a conflict between the unconscious and conscious mind. Freud also gave special attention to two instinctual drives: sex and aggression. Freud typically associated all human behavior as deriving from these two drives.
Economic
Freud’s psychoanalysis economic theory was a perspective that normally viewed mental processes as attempts to satisfy instinctual drives. Freud usually described this process as the quest for greater psychic energy. His idea was that people may invest energy in their quest for pleasure, and that energy could be used to suppress instinctual drives.
Structural
Structural psychoanalysis theory can be thought of as the part of psychoanalysis involving Freud's threefold personality theory of id, ego, and superego.
Genetic
Freud may have considered genetic factors, but they were generally not his focus. He was normally more concerned with childhood events.
Developmental
The developmental psychoanalysis perspective mainly looks at problems with significant childhood events. A part of psychoanalysis therapy can be uncovering those memories to understand them and make decisions about them.
Adaptive
The adaptive view may be concerned with the way a person interacts with the outside world.
Freud’s Ideas About Consciousness And Personality
Freud began developing the psychoanalysis theory with ideas about consciousness. He identified three states of awareness: the conscious, unconscious, and preconscious.
Conscious
The conscious mind can be thought of as the level of thought you are currently aware of without any prompting. When something happens to you, the effects may spring into your consciousness, where you can address them thoughtfully and rationally. The conscious mind is usually the level of awareness where decisions take place.
Unconscious
The unconscious mind can be seen as the part of your mind where thoughts may be completely hidden from you. You are generally not aware of them in the moment, and you cannot usually call those memories up easily. One of the most important goals of psychoanalysis can be to bring those buried thoughts and emotions out into the light of the conscious mind.
Preconscious
You normally aren’t aware of the preconscious level of thought. Much of therapy can happen as you bring preconscious thoughts to consciousness.
Personality: Id, Ego, Superego
Freud's theory of personality typically identifies three facets of the psyche. The id, ego, and superego may be the three divisions that can work together to create long-term happiness if they are in adaptive balance. However, if the three parts of the personality work against each other, there can be confusion, and mental disorders can develop.
Id
The id can be defined as the part of the personality based on instinctual drives. The id may seek pleasure in all things. Sometimes, the things the id desires can be destructive. Other times, the desires of the id can be beneficial, since they often prompt us to reach for the basic pleasures in life. A person who leans toward the id may experience challenges with impulse control.
Ego
The ego may be the part of the psyche that intervenes between the id and the superego. It can be seen as the conscious, reasoning part of the personality. Through psychoanalysis, you can work with your ego to create a more balanced personality.
Superego
The superego may be the part of the psyche that leans toward doing what we think is morally right and beneficial in the long term. A person who tends to follow the demands of the superego may live strictly according to their values.
The Significance Of Childhood Events
Childhood events that have been repressed can represent significant hurdles to current happiness, according to psychoanalytic theory. Memories of painful, traumatic, and confusing events are often uncovered in therapy, potentially allowing you to understand the source of current mental health challenges. Once you recognize and understand these events and their influence on your life, you may make conscious decisions about how to cope with them.
Repression Vs. Expression
In psychoanalysis, repressing memories generally means they are hidden from your conscious mind. When you express your thoughts and feelings about those memories, they may lose power over your current well-being.
Resistance And Defense Mechanisms
Resistance can be thought of as the mental process you may use to hold back unwelcome thoughts and memories. You may resist such thoughts because they are painful or threaten your current view of reality. The way you avoid such memories coming into consciousness may be by using defense mechanisms.
Defense mechanisms can be reactions to questions or reminders that inhibit your recall or realization. Examples of defense mechanisms may include denial, repression, sublimation, and intellectualizing. When these ill-adaptive thought processes hold you back from consciously coping with your problems, you may not be able to reason out what happened, what you are hiding from yourself, or what to do about it.
Transference
Psychoanalysis transference can be a specific defense mechanism that comes into play during therapy. The patient may direct their thoughts, emotions, and memories of early childhood relationships toward the therapist as if the therapist were the one who was originally involved. This is generally an unconscious mental process.
Dreams And Unintentional Behaviors
Freud believed that the most important keys to unlocking the unconscious could be found in dreams and unintentional behaviors. Freud identified specific dream elements that could be symbolic of hidden desires and inner conflicts.
Many people have heard of the “Freudian slip.” This may happen when you accidentally say something you did not intend to say, such as substituting one word for another. According to Freud, all behavior can be relevant, whether intentional or unintentional.
Resolving Conflicts Between The Conscious And Unconscious
Psychoanalytic therapy is generally designed to resolve internal conflicts once they have been brought to light. Because conflict can be confusing, resolving it may allow you to gain perspective and feel more peaceful. Since conflict can stifle your ability to make a positive decision, resolving it can help you respond more effectively to current situations.
Psychoanalysis Techniques
Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis techniques normally required the psychoanalyst to say as little as possible. Their role at that time was primarily to offer instruction, ask questions, and provide occasional interpretations.
Most psychoanalysts use many of the same therapy techniques. The following may be some of the most widely used.
Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance can be defined as a kind of partnership formed between the psychoanalyst and the client. Within this relationship, both psychoanalyst and client may work together to recognize and understand sources of conflict. The therapist generally contributes their expertise, while the client usually does the hard work of facing difficult thoughts, emotions, and realities.
The psychoanalyst, according to Freud, normally must start by offering instruction. Once the client knows how to proceed, the two may work together to explore significant thoughts, memories, and emotions. Then, the psychoanalyst can help the client find clarity about what they've learned in this process.
Free Association
A central therapeutic technique of psychoanalysis can be free association. This is a technique that typically employs the mental process of associating one word or image with another. One way therapists may use this technique is by saying a word and asking the patient what they think of when they hear it.
Analyzing Dreams, Fantasies, And Unconscious Thoughts
An important component of psychoanalysis can be the interpretation of dreams. Freud generally spent a lot of time talking to patients about their dreams. He often analyzed these dreams according to the images they contained and the symbolic meanings of those images. By applying psychoanalytic theory to these symbolic meanings, Freud may have discovered the sources of the patient's current challenges.
Fantasies may come from the id, the pleasure-seeking part of the personality. Freud was often particularly interested in sexual fantasies. Current psychoanalysis therapists may still ask about dreams and help you find the meaning of them in your life. They may talk about sexual fantasies as well, but only as they are important in your life.
While Freud assumed that every word and every behavior had a meaning, most modern psychoanalysis therapists believe this is only true part of the time. If you have a simple slip of the tongue, your therapist will not typically pursue its meaning unless it seems to be part of a larger pattern.
Objections To Psychoanalysis Theory And Therapy
Psychoanalysis can be criticized because some believe it puts too much emphasis on the unconscious mind. Countless clinical observations suggest that conscious feelings, desires, thoughts, and experiences can affect a person’s beliefs and behaviors as well. So far, there has been little empirical evidence to support theories otherwise because the human mind tends to be far too ambiguous and complex to define with such simple techniques as free association, dream analysis, and slips of the tongue.
One case study, in particular, pointed out another potential problem with Freud’s theory and approach. According to research, psychoanalysis can focus too heavily on childhood events and the psychological effects thereof. Furthermore, the practice seldom follows standard scientific protocol and rarely accounts for factors such as familial bonds, inborn impairments, autonomous functions, or post-oedipal development.
Psychoanalysis criticism often comes from psychologists outside of the psychoanalysis school of thought. They often complain that psychoanalysis can be too rigid and focuses too strongly on sex. Further, its sexual theories can be considered quite sexist in their definitions, as well as their proposed treatments. Others suggest that science may not back up many of Freud's assertions. However, psychoanalysis has generally changed considerably since it began.
Benefits Of Online Therapy
If you are uncomfortable seeking therapy, you may want to consider online therapy. The idea of exploring your psyche can often be intimidating, but the qualified experts at BetterHelp may guide you through the process, so you can start to understand more about yourself. You can match with a licensed therapist who incorporates principles of psychoanalysis into their approach and switch professionals as needed until you find one who meets your needs and preferences.
Effectiveness Of Online Therapy
According to a 2022 study, an online psychodynamic therapy intervention was typically just as effective as its face-to-face counterpart. In general, both online therapy and in-person therapy can be valid options for those interested in seeking professional help with their mental health.
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Takeaway
FAQs
Where did the psychoanalytic theory come from?
Psychoanalytic theories, which focus on finding ways to treat mental disorders, originated from the mind of Austrian psychiatrist, Sigmund Freud. Freud believed that the unconscious mind was responsible for a person’s innate behaviors, including those which shaped personality development. The theory is also called “depth psychology” because it focuses on the three fundamental structures of human behavior: id, ego, and superego. For more information about the development of his theory, read the Sigmund Freud biography.
What is the main purpose of psychoanalysis?
The purpose of psychoanalysis is to uncover and understand a person’s subconscious mental states, especially those that directly affect their perceptions, personalities, or behaviors. Psychoanalytical therapy, therefore, helps psychiatrists gain insights into a person’s id, ego, and superego structures to better understand how it affects their mentality, emotions, mannerisms, and relationships.
What is psychoanalysis in simple terms?
The term psychoanalysis can be broken down into two root words from the Latin language: “psycho” which means “mental” and “analysis” which means “the study of.” It is simple psychology based primarily on the theories of Sigmund Freud. Officially, the term is defined as a series of psychological tests and therapy methods used to activate and/or transform the unconscious mind and foster more productive conscious awareness.
This type of personality analysis assumes that all people have unconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories which dictate how they feel and behave. During countless clinical observations and comprehensive dream analyses, a patient was usually encouraged to free association about personal experiences and trauma, thereby uncovering hidden factors that affect emotional control and mental illness such as depression, anxiety, and even obsessive-compulsive disorder.
When was psychoanalysis first used?
The first instances of psychoanalysis occurred in the late 1800s when it became one of Sigmund Freud’s signature psychological theories. By 1897, Freud believed in the power of the unconscious mind so much that he began running experiments on himself. By 1900, he had published “The Interpretation of Dreams” wherein he conducted a comprehensive dream analysis to outline the effects on a person’s waking behaviors. Later, the University of Vienna appointed Freud as Professor of Neuropathology at the University where he went on to analyze free association and slips of the tongue, thus coining the term “Freudian Slip.”
Psychoanalysis started gaining momentum and attention around the 1950s and 60s when nearly half of all psychology majors were being formally trained in Freudian psychology. Today, the American Psychoanalytic Association (APSA) categorizes psychoanalysis as a legitimate form of therapy, with psychoanalytic psychotherapies being developed, practiced, and taught all over the country.
Why is psychoanalysis criticized?
Psychoanalysis is often criticized because it puts too much emphasis on the unconscious mind. Countless clinical observations suggest that conscious feelings, desires, thoughts, and experiences can affect a person’s beliefs and behaviors as well. So far, there has been little empirical evidence to support theories otherwise. That’s because the human mind is far too ambiguous and complex to define with such simple techniques as free association, dream analysis, and slips of the tongue.
One case study, in particular, pointed out another problem with Freud’s theory and approach. According to research, psychoanalysis can focus too heavily on childhood events and the psychological effects thereof. Furthermore, the practice seldom follows standard scientific protocol and rarely accounts for factors such as familial bonds, inborn impairments, autonomous functions, or post-oedipal development.
Does psychoanalysis work?
There is a debate over whether psychoanalysis works or not. Some speculate that it focuses too much attention on unpredictable, intangible, and abstract factors. Others believe it’s the foundation of understanding human behavior. Either way, psychoanalysis can help uncover hidden facts about a person’s unconscious mind, thereby making it easier for therapists to understand and treat mental illness or emotional turmoil.
One particular study on the long-term effectiveness of Freudian psychoanalysis found that the approach is just as useful as many other therapeutic procedures. Childhood attachment theory presents a significant exception, however, as is described by the groundbreaking work of Melanie Klein. Meanwhile, the famous philosopher, Karl Popper, considers the practice to be unproven pseudoscience that produces a hypothesis without any measurable evidence.
Regardless, a vast majority of psychoanalytical practitioners now assert that subconscious analysis works. They often point to quantitative enhancements in patients’ relationships, self-esteem, and social interactions after receiving treatment. And while each person is different in how they react to the therapy, things like dream analysis, free associations, and slips of the tongue can still be useful when painting the bigger picture about a patient’s personality.
When should psychoanalysis end?
The American Psychoanalytic Association (APSA) recommends that psychoanalysis lasts between six months to a year at least. However, the length of treatment almost always adheres to a person’s natural or society’s normal maturation rates. Therefore, psychoanalysis can take about three to five years to complete, with one-hour sessions required as much as five times per week, depending on the patient’s mental health severity.
Psychoanalytical efforts are commonly slowed down by the effects of transference neurosis, however. As such, psychoanalytical procedures most often cease when the patient’s transference neurosis ends. Transference neurosis is a condition defined by neurologist, Jean-Martin Charcot, and neurologist, Sigmund Freud. It is a phenomenon of the unconscious mind that refers to the recognizably intertwined fantasies and memories associated with long-forgotten childhood experiences. Since psychoanalysis aims to provoke and change perceptions through dream analysis and free associations, treatment times vary widely from one patient to another.
How long does psychoanalysis take to work?
According to psychologist and neurologist, Sigmund Freud, the average person should practice psychoanalysis throughout their entire lifetime. However, those who suffer from emotional or mental illness should structure their psychoanalytical therapies around healing instead of timing. For example, most therapists suggest six to eight sessions at the very least. Severe mental or emotional health conditions may require more intensive therapies and longer psychoanalytical timetables. On average, acute cases can take anywhere from three to five years to complete.
Is Psychoanalysis used today?
Sigmund Freud made a tremendous impact on modern-day psychology, with his theories on psychoanalysis being widely used in various therapies today. Other experts such as Alfred Adler also made a significant mark on modern mental medicine. Both have had their theories published and peer-reviewed for accuracy and efficiency, and various forms of psychoanalysis are now practiced.
Analytical exercises such as psychotherapy (free associative talk therapy), group counseling, and dream evaluation are more popular than ever before. Therefore, psychoanalysis is most often used to help treat depression, anxiety, or trauma.
What is wrong with psychoanalysis?
Put simply, psychology is the study of human thoughts and their subsequent behaviors. Psychoanalysis, on the other hand, is the study of the subconscious stimuli that affect those thoughts and behaviors. It uses non-empirical evidence and abstract principles to determine the cause(s) of a patient’s mental or emotional turmoil. Therefore, it’s not an exact science and is sometimes referred to as a “pseudoscience” by those who prefer more concrete techniques.
For many experts, psychoanalysis is merely a part of the bigger picture. Most think it relies too heavily on childhood experiences and vivid dreams - both of which are difficult to prove and/or monitor. Furthermore, there is little room left to consider factors such as temperament, impairment, family structure, culture, and psychosexual stages such as post-oedipal development, puberty, and menopause.
How is psychoanalysis done?
In the Freud biography, Sigmund outlines how effective psychoanalysis should be conducted. He states that the patient should attend therapy sessions at least a few times per week over several months or years. The frequency thereof is often discussed before the therapies start, and most sessions are held in a psychiatry office or a group setting with other individuals.
Psychoanalysis focuses on revealing the subconscious factors that drive a patient’s thoughts, feelings, and mannerisms. So, office visits and group counseling sessions usually concentrate on the three parts of a person’s personality: the id, the ego, and the superego. Each part develops at a different stage in life, thus prompting different analytical techniques and customized outcomes from treatment.
What is the main focus in the study of personality?
The primary purpose of personality psychology can be broken down into two main parts: 1) understanding individual characteristics, and 2) developing ways to change behaviors and/or treat emotional or mental illnesses. Psychoanalytical exercises can help people accept themselves more readily while giving them the tools to excavate or explain repressed memories. This, in turn, can foster a greater understanding of that individual, thus allowing for more accurate diagnoses and less invasive treatments.
What are the 4 types of personality?
Although every person is unique, four fundamental personality types are commonly analyzed in psychiatry. Most people have a major type and a minor type, with the following being the foundational characteristics of each combination:
Driver - This can be described as a fact-based extrovert.
Expressive - This is a fact-loving person with introverted tendencies.
Amiable - This is a relationship introvert uninterested in confrontation.
Analytical - This is a relationship extrovert thriving on confrontation.
Personality types can be broken down even further into two primary categories:
Introverted or extroverted, and
This variable blend of traits thereby makes up a person’s unique personality. Thus, there are many different personalities based on those possible combinations alone.
What is a personality example?
Personality is the measure of all experiences, memories, and stimuli in a person’s life. It describes their worldview and affects how they interact with other people, places, things, and ideas. Thus, a few of the most common personality examples are as follows:
Ambitious - Usually associated with Type A people who are goal-oriented
Easy-going - The laid-back demeanor of someone with a Type B personality
Conscientious - A trait among those who prefer to plan instead of being spontaneous
Neurotic - Prone to feeling vulnerable or inclined toward temperamental behaviors
Agreeable - Usually expressed through sympathy and a desire to help others.
Personalities typically combine two or more persona types to create a unique individual. Factors such as childhood development, trauma, and/or the effects of different psychosexual stages of development are also key. Thus, various forms of psychoanalysis are often needed to determine someone’s true personality profile.
What are the 5 main personality traits?
Personality traits are the distinctive characteristics that make a person who they truly are. Put simply, psychology breaks down the human personality spectrum into five basic traits, as follows:
Openness
Conscientiousness
Extraversion
Neuroticism
Agreeableness
These traits are often referred to as “The Big Five” because they’re common across all of humanity and usually influence a person’s beliefs, dreams, and demeanors the most. Thus, they form the blueprint for psychological theories, therapies, and acute psychoanalysis.
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