Sigmund Freud

Psychoanalytic Theory

Biography of Freud

Born in 1856 in Frieberg, MoraviaFirst child of 8 (dad had two grown sons from previous marriage)His mother’s special favoriteGot a medical degree from University of ViennaMarried Martha Vernays and had 6 children (youngest was Anna).Learned the technique of hypnosis from Jean-Martin Charcot and started believing in the sexual origin of hysterical symptoms.

Mid and Later LifeBecame friends with Joseph Breuer--learned about catharsis, free association & Anna O.Had midlife crisis in the 1890s & published The Interpretation of Dreams” in 1900.Founded the Vienna Psycho-Analytical Society and became associated with Erikson, Adler, and Jung. Fell out with each one.Fled the Nazis in 1938, moved to London with daughter Anna. Died in 1939.

Early Life

Early Pictures of FreudFreud and his Mother, Amalie Nathansan Freud

Freud and Martha Bernays—their wedding photo

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Based his model of human nature on the idea of psychic energy—the source of energy within each person that provides motivationTwo assumptions about psychic energy:

The amount one has remains constant throughout lifePersonality change can be viewed as a redirection of the psychic energy

Research on ego depletion confirms that one seems to have a limited amount of psychic energy and that self-control in one area limits the amount of energy (or control) you have for other areas.

InstinctsThe basic source of psychic energy are strong, innate forces called instincts.Freud first thought the instincts were self-preservation and the sexual instinct (based on Darwin).He later reviewed these into basic ones of life—libido—and death—thanatos. They can work either in opposition or together.Libido was basically sexual but referred to anything pleasurable or life-sustaining. Thanatos refers to an urge to destroy, harm, or aggress toward self or others.

Levels of ConsciousnessThree levels:

Conscious—what we’re thinking about right nowPreconscious—what we could be thinking about if askedUnconscious—”seething cauldron” of repressed thoughts, desires, and impulses.

Structure of the PersonalityId: present from birth; operates by the pleasure principle with no concern for reality; engages in primary process thinking—thinking without logical rules. (Unconscious)Ego: develops to reign in the id; abides by the reality principle; engages in secondary process thinking—problem-solving strategies. (Mostly Preconscious/conscious)Superego: morality branch; develops by age 5; “conscience;” can either reward or punish the ego. Based on teachings by parents, teachers, and religious instructors. Can be overly harsh (demands for perfection) or overly lax (low moral standards). Mostly unconscious.

Ego caught in the middleId: I want this right

now!

Ego: Let me

figure out a way

Superego How dare you even think about that!

AnxietyBeing caught in the middle between the superego and id makes the ego suffer anxiety.Anxiety is a signal that something is wrong and that the ego’s control is being threatened. A well-balanced mind is the result of having a strong ego and is free from anxiety.Defense mechanisms help ego cope with anxiety.

Types of anxiety:Objective—real anxiety based on external events Neurotic—occurs when there’s a conflict between the id and egoMoral—occurs when there’s a conflict between the ego and superego. (Results in chronic shame and guilt.)

Common Defense Mechanisms

Empirical Studies of Repression

1979 study showed that repressors’ self-reported feelings of distress were lower than non-reporters, but their physiological responses showed more distress. Since then, repressors have been found to recall fewer unpleasant memories from childhood, and it seems that the experience of repression happens during encoding, not recall. Somehow, repressors dampen their emotional reactions to bad events and don’t allow them to become encoded.

Theory of Psychosexual Development

General Facts about the StagesStage theory of developmentAs sex instinct matures, its energy, the libido, moves into a new body part, and the child is now at a different stage of development.Each stage represents a conflict between early sources of pleasure and constraints of realityAdult personality is the result of how well these conflicts are resolved.One can become “fixated” at a particular stage of development. (Fixation is closely related to regression.)Fixation occurs when the child’s needs are either not met sufficiently or are over-gratified.

Table of the Psychosexual Stages

The Oedipal Complex

Found in the phallic stageBoy has incestuous desire for mother and wants to hurt or kill father because Dad is competitionFears Dad will castrate him (castration anxiety) for his thoughtsRepresses desire for Mom, identifies with Dad, and becomes psychologically male

The Electra Complex

Counterpart to boy’s Oedipal ComplexTerm was actually coined by JungRepresents a girl’s desire for her fatherGirl has penis envy and blames Mom for cutting off her penisTransfers her affection to her fatherFreud didn’t know how girls resolved this (since they had no castration anxiety) and concluded that girls must have a weaker superego than boys.

Psychoanalytic Techniques

Revealing the Unconscious

Free Association—”the talking cure”—replaced Freud’s use of hypnosisDream analysis—manifest & latent contentProjective techniques

The Process of Psychoanalysis

Patient engages in free associationTherapist offers interpretation of what patient has saidThrough many interpretations, patient gains insight—an understanding of the unconscious source of problemsProcess is difficult & blocked with challenges

Patient resistancePatient transferenceRepetition compulsion

Why do we care about Freud?

Psychoanalysis has had a major impact on psychology, psychiatry, and Western thought generallySome of his terms have become part of our everyday vocabulary.His “discovery” of the unconscious mind was valuable.Psychoanalysis is still a major technique of psychotherapy.Freud’s ideas are generating new research today.

Critics say…

Freud’s theory is primarily of historical valueFreud didn’t believe in the value of experimentation or hypothesis testing in establishing the validity of psychoanalysis.Freud relied on case studies of a handful of wealthy neurotic Viennese women.Freud’s view of human nature is generally considered negative.His emphasis on sexuality in childhood has not been well-received.