Introducing Psychoanalysis IV

8/9/2019 Introducing Psychoanalysis IV

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Introducing Psychoanalysis IVIntroducing Psychoanalysis IV

Why is some mental activityWhy is some mental activityconscious and other portionconscious and other portion

unconscious?unconscious?

Since mental activity revolvesSince mental activity revolvesaround wish fulfillment, another wayaround wish fulfillment, another wayof phrasing this question is:of phrasing this question is:

±±Why are some wishes conscious and Why are some wishes conscious and others unconscious? others unconscious?




What did Freud say?What did Freud say?

±±³unconsciousness is a regular and ³unconsciousness is a regular andinevitable phase in the processesinevitable phase in the processesconstituting our mental activity; everyconstituting our mental activity; everymental act begins as an unconsciousmental act begins as an unconscious

one, and it may either remain so or goone, and it may either remain so or goon developing into consciousness,on developing into consciousness,according as it meets with resistance or according as it meets with resistance or not.´ not.´




Thus some wishes have the capacityThus some wishes have the capacityto become conscious with noto become conscious with noproblem.problem.

Others have a harder time doing so.Others have a harder time doing so.The reason for this is that theyThe reason for this is that theyencounterencounter resistance.resistance.

When wishes (thought, images, etc.)When wishes (thought, images, etc.)are expelled from consciousnessare expelled from consciousnessthrough resistance, they becomethrough resistance, they becomeunconscious, and cannot enterunconscious, and cannot enter

consciousness unless:consciousness unless:




Where does resistance come from?Where does resistance come from?

Resistance to the certain wishesResistance to the certain wishes

come from the reality ego.come from the reality ego.This resistance has many sources.This resistance has many sources.

among them are:among them are:

1) some wishes are practically1) some wishes are practicallydangerous and/or impossible.dangerous and/or impossible. T heir T heir fulfillment endangers the life of thefulfillment endangers the life of theorganismorganism..




Where does resistance come from?Where does resistance come from?

Resistance to the certain wishesResistance to the certain wishes

come from the reality ego.come from the reality ego.This resistance has many sourcesThis resistance has many sources

among them:among them:

2) Some wishes, even though they2) Some wishes, even though theyare practically feasible, areare practically feasible, arenormatively forbidden or morally normatively forbidden or morally condemned condemned ..




In other words while the instinctIn other words while the instinct(under the rule of the pleasure(under the rule of the pleasure

principle) says fulfill my aim now!principle) says fulfill my aim now!The reality ego says: Moron, think of The reality ego says: Moron, think of the consequences!the consequences!

For FreudFor Freud this clash between thethis clash between the

pleasure ego and the reality ego, pleasure ego and the reality ego,constituted the key to understandingconstituted the key to understandingall of the interesting (and tragic)all of the interesting (and tragic)

phenomena of mental life phenomena of mental life..




We have to now distinguish betweenWe have to now distinguish betweenthree different ³states´ that a mentalthree different ³states´ that a mental

representation of the instinct mayrepresentation of the instinct maypossess:possess:

1) it can be1) it can be consciousconscious activated atactivated atthe moment (man, I feel like doing«)the moment (man, I feel like doing«)






We have to now distinguish betweenWe have to now distinguish betweenthree different ³states´ that a mentalthree different ³states´ that a mentalrepresentation of the instinct mayrepresentation of the instinct may

possess:possess:3) It can be3) It can be unconsciousunconscious: that is,: that is,

exist as a mental representation inexist as a mental representation in

the cognitive system, but unable tothe cognitive system, but unable toever reach consciousness giveever reach consciousness givecurrent levels of resistance.current levels of resistance.




External

perceptual

stimuli:

Conscious ego

Mental

Representation of

Instincts

Conscious

UnconsciousPleasure or Pain?

Physiological

Source of

Instincts

Pleasure or Pain?

Pre-ConsciousPre-cons. ego

Uncs. ego

Real/Unreal?

Action in theReal World

If Pleasure, Stand

Down. If Pain Do

Something to get

rid of it




Normally, (in the absence of Normally, (in the absence of resistance) instincts go from beingresistance) instincts go from beingphysiological, to mental/unconscious,physiological, to mental/unconscious,

to mental/preconscious to mentalto mental/preconscious to mentalconscious easily.conscious easily.

However, when resistance is present,However, when resistance is present,

instinct may get ³stuck´ at theinstinct may get ³stuck´ at themental/unconscious (or unconsciousmental/unconscious (or unconsciousfor short) stage.for short) stage.




External

perceptual

stimuli:

Conscious ego

Mental

Representation of

Instincts

Conscious


Physiological

Source of

Instincts

Pleasure or Pain?


Uncs. ego

Real/Unreal?


If Pleasure, Stand

Down. If Pain Do

Something to get

rid of it




External

perceptual

stimuli:

Conscious ego

Mental

Representation of

Instincts

Conscious


Physiological

Source of

Instincts

Pleasure or Pain?


Uncs. ego

Real/Unreal?


If Pleasure, Stand

Down. If Pain Do

Something to get

rid of it

Resistance




In psychoanalysis the processIn psychoanalysis the processthrough which the unconscious egothrough which the unconscious ego ³checks´ the multiple impulses ³checks´ the multiple impulses

coming from the body is calledcoming from the body is calledrepression.repression.

It is important not to confuseIt is important not to confuse

repression with suppression.repression with suppression.Suppression entails the consciousSuppression entails the consciousego rejecting an impulseego rejecting an impulse..




Repression in contrast is anRepression in contrast is anunconscious and automatic processunconscious and automatic processof rejection of impulses.of rejection of impulses.

This means that you stop yourself This means that you stop yourself from doing multiple things everydayfrom doing multiple things everydaywithout being aware that you arewithout being aware that you are

stopping yourself from doing themstopping yourself from doing them..




This almost has to be the case if youThis almost has to be the case if youaccept the fact that there areaccept the fact that there arehundreds of impulses being createdhundreds of impulses being created

in the body and being transferred toin the body and being transferred tothe unconscious when you arethe unconscious when you areawake.awake.

I

f the conscious ego had to checkI

f the conscious ego had to checkeach one of them to see if they areeach one of them to see if they arecompatible with reality, yourcompatible with reality, yourcognitive system would soon becognitive system would soon be

overwhelmed.overwhelmed.




This means that part of thisThis means that part of this ³censoring´ activity is transferred to ³censoring´ activity is transferred toautomatic (unconscious) systems inautomatic (unconscious) systems in

the ego, so that you can get on withthe ego, so that you can get on withthe rest of your life.the rest of your life.

At this point the only criteria that theAt this point the only criteria that the

ego uses to sort through theego uses to sort through theimpulses is the realistic/unrealisticimpulses is the realistic/unrealisticcriterion along with the pleasure/paincriterion along with the pleasure/paincriterion.criterion.




This means that at the ³checkpoint´ This means that at the ³checkpoint´ the unconscious ego inspects thethe unconscious ego inspects theimpulse and asks ³is it feasible orimpulse and asks ³is it feasible or

not?´ not?´ If the answer to the last question isIf the answer to the last question is

yes, then it will allow the impulse toyes, then it will allow the impulse to

become preconscious and laterbecome preconscious and laterconscious. If not,conscious. If not, the impulse isthe impulse isrepressed repressed ..




For Freud, the most important kind of For Freud, the most important kind of repressed impulses where the ones thatrepressed impulses where the ones thatcarried a lot of energy or potential forcarried a lot of energy or potential for

pleasure, but were repressed for lack of pleasure, but were repressed for lack of practical success.practical success.

The reason for this is that these impulsesThe reason for this is that these impulseshighlighted the contradiction between thehighlighted the contradiction between the

two principles of mental functioning.two principles of mental functioning.




When a strong impulse is denied access toWhen a strong impulse is denied access toconsciousness, it continues to ³try to getconsciousness, it continues to ³try to getin´ which means that the ego has toin´ which means that the ego has to

devote a lot of energy to repression.devote a lot of energy to repression. The more impulses are being repressedThe more impulses are being repressed

by the ego, the less energy will the egoby the ego, the less energy will the egohave to devote to repression and the lesshave to devote to repression and the lessenergy it will have to do other thingsenergy it will have to do other things(think, move the body, worry about(think, move the body, worry aboutpractical matters, etc.)practical matters, etc.)




However, just because an impulse isHowever, just because an impulse isbeing met by resistance, does notbeing met by resistance, does notnecessarily mean that it will staynecessarily mean that it will stayunconscious forever.unconscious forever.

There are many ways in which aThere are many ways in which arepressed impulse can still becomerepressed impulse can still become

conscious.conscious.




1) ego resistance to them is1) ego resistance to them issomehow weakened.somehow weakened.

2) they gather ³enough steam´ to2) they gather ³enough steam´ tobeat the resistance.beat the resistance.

3) the disguise themselves in order3) the disguise themselves in orderto ³fool the reality principle´ and thusto ³fool the reality principle´ and thusenter consciousness in a modifiedenter consciousness in a modifiedway.way.




Let¶s review the ways in which anLet¶s review the ways in which anunconscious instinct can becomeunconscious instinct can becomeconscious (in the presence of conscious (in the presence of resistance):resistance):

1 ) resistance to them is somehow 1 ) resistance to them is somehow weakened.weakened.

We¶ve all experienced this duringWe¶ve all experienced this duringepisodes of drunkenness, drug use,episodes of drunkenness, drug use,chronic fatigue, etc.chronic fatigue, etc.






Here the ego loses the capacity toHere the ego loses the capacity toengage in resistance, and previouslyengage in resistance, and previouslyunconscious wishes becomeunconscious wishes become

conscious.conscious.




Let¶s review the ways in which anLet¶s review the ways in which anunconscious instinct can becomeunconscious instinct can becomeconscious (in the presence of conscious (in the presence of

resistance):resistance):1 ) resistance to them is somehow 1 ) resistance to them is somehow

weakened.weakened.

Freud thought that during dreamsFreud thought that during dreamsthe same thing happened. Controlthe same thing happened. Controlcenters of the ego in charge of centers of the ego in charge of resistance are turned off.resistance are turned off.






weakened.weakened.

Why are dreams so crazy then?Why are dreams so crazy then?Because just before you wake up,Because just before you wake up,the censor realizes all of the terriblethe censor realizes all of the terriblethings you dreamed about, and in athings you dreamed about, and in a

desperatedesperate






weakened.weakened.

attempt to erase what has been doneattempt to erase what has been done jumbles your memories of the jumbles your memories of thedreamdream.. In other words what youIn other words what youremember in the morning isremember in the morning is not not whatwhat

you dreamt butyou dreamt but






an ³alphabet soup´ jumble createdan ³alphabet soup´ jumble createdby the ego to protect you. For Freudby the ego to protect you. For Freuddreams were not crazy but perfectlydreams were not crazy but perfectly

logical:logical:




Let¶s review the ways in which anLet¶s review the ways in which anunconscious instinct can becomeunconscious instinct can becomeconscious (in the presence of resistance):conscious (in the presence of resistance):


You dream about having sex with x, killingYou dream about having sex with x, killingy, looking at z naked, etc. But youry, looking at z naked, etc. But yourmemories of the dream are all scrambled.memories of the dream are all scrambled.This scrambling isThis scrambling is thethe Dream Work Dream Work






weakened.weakened.

The only way to unscramble your

The only way to unscramble yourdreams is to try to figure outdreams is to try to figure out what iswhat is

it that you want to do but keepit that you want to do but keepyourself from thinking about yourself from thinking about ..






All of that stuff is somehow locked inAll of that stuff is somehow locked inyour memories of the dream, butyour memories of the dream, butrequire interpretation to bring themrequire interpretation to bring them

about.about.






Freud thought that the ³censor´ alwaysFreud thought that the ³censor´ alwaysused the same scrambling strategies, soused the same scrambling strategies, sothat some memories of dreams had thethat some memories of dreams had thesame interpretation.same interpretation.





2 ) they gather ³enough steam´ to beat the2 ) they gather ³enough steam´ to beat theresistance.resistance.

This is pretty simple, since it concerns theThis is pretty simple, since it concerns thecase when the impulse to do somethingcase when the impulse to do somethingbecomes so powerful that it overwhelmsbecomes so powerful that it overwhelmsthe ego.the ego.





2 ) they gather ³enough steam´ to beat the2 ) they gather ³enough steam´ to beat theresistance.resistance.

Various pathological cases are examplesVarious pathological cases are examplesof this. People just ³lose it´ one day.of this. People just ³lose it´ one day.They ³explode´ and ³go crazy´, etc.They ³explode´ and ³go crazy´, etc.





3 ) T hey disguise themselves in order 3 ) T hey disguise themselves in order to ³fool the reality principle´ and thusto ³fool the reality principle´ and thus

enter consciousness in a modified enter consciousness in a modified way.way.




The strategies of deception of theThe strategies of deception of theinstinct or the ³egoinstinct or the ³ego--defensedefensemechanisms´ are the most importantmechanisms´ are the most importantinsight of psychoanalysis.insight of psychoanalysis.

This is Freud¶s most brilliantThis is Freud¶s most brilliantcontribution to the understanding of contribution to the understanding of

the mind (not his theory of dreams).the mind (not his theory of dreams).




How can an instinct disguise itself inHow can an instinct disguise itself inorder to enter consciousness?order to enter consciousness?Instincts are usually modified in fourInstincts are usually modified in fourprimary ways:primary ways:

1) Their aim is reversed (from active1) Their aim is reversed (from activeto passive, from the subject to theto passive, from the subject to the

object).object).

2) Their object is shifted2) Their object is shifted

3) Their3) Their emotional valenceemotional valence is flippedis flipped

(from positive to negative).(from positive to negative).




How can an instinct disguise itself inHow can an instinct disguise itself inorder to enter consciousness?order to enter consciousness?Instincts are usually modified in fourInstincts are usually modified in fourprimary ways:primary ways:

4) their aim is transferred to some4) their aim is transferred to someother aim and their object is shiftedother aim and their object is shifted

to some other object.to some other object.




From this we can derive the fourFrom this we can derive the fourprimary ³defense mechanisms´ thatprimary ³defense mechanisms´ thatthe ego uses to deal with peskythe ego uses to deal with peskyinstincts that won¶t go away:instincts that won¶t go away:

1) Projection1) Projection

2) Displacement2) Displacement

3) Reaction3) Reaction--FormationFormation

4) Sublimation4) Sublimation




P rojectionP rojection involves changing the aiminvolves changing the aimof the mental representation of theof the mental representation of theinstinct from passive to active :instinct from passive to active :

Latent (unconscious) thought:Latent (unconscious) thought:

±± I I want to touchwant to touch himhim! Yeah!! Yeah!

Manifest (conscious) Thought:Manifest (conscious) Thought:

±±H eH e wants to touchwants to touch meme! Yuck!! Yuck!




Projection for instance is involved inProjection for instance is involved inthe psychoanalytic explanation of the psychoanalytic explanation of various mental phenomena, includingvarious mental phenomena, including

extreme homophobia.extreme homophobia.±±Also, for instance sexual attraction toAlso, for instance sexual attraction to

members of a minority group (which ismembers of a minority group (which islooked down upon) by members of alooked down upon) by members of a

majority group can be dealt with by waymajority group can be dealt with by wayof projection.of projection.




Projection for instance is involved inProjection for instance is involved inthe psychoanalytic explanation of the psychoanalytic explanation of various mental phenomena, includingvarious mental phenomena, includingextreme homophobia.extreme homophobia.

±±This leads to an ³This leads to an ³oversexualizationoversexualization´ of ´ of the minority group by members of thethe minority group by members of the

majority group.majority group.






±± I I want to touchwant to touch themthem [blacks, Jews,[blacks, Jews,etc.]. Yeah!etc.]. Yeah!

Manifest (conscious) Thought:Manifest (conscious) Thought:±±T hey T hey want to touchwant to touch meme! Yuck!! Yuck!






±± I I wantwant her her !!

Manifest (conscious) Thought:Manifest (conscious) Thought:

±±SheShe WantsWants Me!Me!




Displacement is when theDisplacement is when the object object of of the instinct is switched from onethe instinct is switched from oneperson/thing to another person/thingperson/thing to another person/thingbut thebut the aimaim remains the same.remains the same.

Latent thought:Latent thought:

±± I want to kill myI want to kill my dad dad !!

Manifest thought:Manifest thought:

±± I want to killI want to kill that dogthat dog!!




Displacement is when theDisplacement is when the object object of theof theinstinct is switched from one person/thinginstinct is switched from one person/thingto another person/thing but theto another person/thing but the aimaim

remains the same.remains the same.±± Projection is a common defense mechanism forProjection is a common defense mechanism for

children, because a lot of their emotionschildren, because a lot of their emotions(especially negative but also sexual ones) are(especially negative but also sexual ones) are

directed at their parents, who are much moredirected at their parents, who are much morepowerful than they are.powerful than they are.





remains the same.remains the same.±± Therefore these impulses are usually displacedTherefore these impulses are usually displaced

to small animals, younger relatives, or evento small animals, younger relatives, or eveninanimate objects. In pathological cases, thisinanimate objects. In pathological cases, this

can become extreme (i.e. Abused children arecan become extreme (i.e. Abused children areknown to be cruel to animals).known to be cruel to animals).





±±A very special kind of displacement, isA very special kind of displacement, iswhen the object goes from being somewhen the object goes from being some

person/object in the outside world toperson/object in the outside world tobeing a person¶s own self.being a person¶s own self.





remains the same.remains the same.±± This opens up the possibility that you canThis opens up the possibility that you can

direct aggressive/sexual impulses to your owndirect aggressive/sexual impulses to your ownbody. The second case was known in Freud¶sbody. The second case was known in Freud¶s

times astimes as narcissism.narcissism.T

he other case, wasT

he other case, wascalled melancholia. Today is called depression.called melancholia. Today is called depression.





remains the same.remains the same.±± Thus, depression in psychoanalysis is nothingThus, depression in psychoanalysis is nothing

but the displacement of negative affect (hate,but the displacement of negative affect (hate,aggression,aggression, etcetc) originally directed at some) originally directed at some

outside object (parents, friends, brothers, etc.)outside object (parents, friends, brothers, etc.)toward the self.toward the self.





±±Suicidal and other common imagery inSuicidal and other common imagery indepression are simply the mentaldepression are simply the mental

representation of aggressive impulsesrepresentation of aggressive impulseswith the self as object.with the self as object.





Latent thought:Latent thought:

±± I want to kill myI want to kill my dad dad !!

Manifest thought:Manifest thought:

±± I want to killI want to kill myself myself !!





remains the same.remains the same.±± Thus it is no surprise, once again that abusedThus it is no surprise, once again that abused

children (who have good reason to want to killchildren (who have good reason to want to killtheir parents) or social categories of peopletheir parents) or social categories of people

who arewho are taught totaught to repress theirrepress their aggressionaggression(e.g.(e.g. Women), are prone to depression.Women), are prone to depression.

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Introducing Psychoanalysis IV