The Psychodynamic Model - An Introduction to Freud
- 1. The PsychodynamicThe Psychodynamic ModelModel Of AbnormalityOf Abnormality
- 2. The psychodynamic model originates with Sigmund Freud. Freud was the first to see mental illness in purely psychological terms (rather than physical causes or “evil spirits”). He was a doctor and people who had some problem or concern would come to him to be “cured”. Freud would attempt to resolve their problem by psycho-analysing them – exploring their unconscious desires to find the root of the conflict. Freud. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
- 3. Psychodynamic Theory is all aboutPsychodynamic Theory is all about unconscious drivesunconscious drives and desires:and desires: desires you may have (often to do with unresolved childhood problems ordesires you may have (often to do with unresolved childhood problems or sex) that you aresex) that you are not consciously aware ofnot consciously aware of in your everyday life.in your everyday life. Conscious “ego”Conscious “ego” Unconscious “id” _____________________________________________________________
- 4. ►Assumption #1: Mental disorder isAssumption #1: Mental disorder is caused by unconscious motivations.caused by unconscious motivations. If these unconscious motivations clash with your consciousIf these unconscious motivations clash with your conscious wants and needs, then you have a problem. Either thesewants and needs, then you have a problem. Either these unconscious motivations will find a (possibly dangerousunconscious motivations will find a (possibly dangerous or unpleasant) outlet, or keeping them suppressed willor unpleasant) outlet, or keeping them suppressed will become a problem in itself.become a problem in itself. You have to face your problems to resolve them. This means you have to find out what your unconscious motivations are and make them conscious so you can deal with them – before they erupt!
- 5. Freud’s theory ofFreud’s theory of personalitypersonality What is it?What is it? What Motivates it?What Motivates it? The “Id”The “Id” Unconscious and innateUnconscious and innate drives and desiresdrives and desires The basic state of a babyThe basic state of a baby The pleasure principle –The pleasure principle – the drive to seekthe drive to seek pleasure and immediatepleasure and immediate satisfactionsatisfaction The “Ego”The “Ego” Our conscious selfOur conscious self Develops around 1 year oldDevelops around 1 year old as we have to deal withas we have to deal with reality – the outside worldreality – the outside world The reality principle – toThe reality principle – to accommodate theaccommodate the demands of yourdemands of your environmentenvironment The “Super-ego”The “Super-ego” Our conscience and senseOur conscience and sense of right and wrongof right and wrong Develops around age 5Develops around age 5 To live up to an ideal ofTo live up to an ideal of how we should behow we should be according to the outsideaccording to the outside worldworld
- 6. Ego-defencesEgo-defences The ego mediates between the id andThe ego mediates between the id and the super-ego, coping with conflictingthe super-ego, coping with conflicting demands. Conflicts cause anxiety, sodemands. Conflicts cause anxiety, so the ego has multiple defences againstthe ego has multiple defences against these conflicts, for example:these conflicts, for example: Repression (suppressing feelings or the memory of traumatic events) Projection (blaming someone or something else for your problems) Denial (denying a problem exists) Displacement (venting your anger elsewhere) Regression (behaving like a child) Intellectualisation (emotionally detaching yourself from your problems) These ego-defences are unconscious and if over-used can add to the problem rather than solving it.
- 7. ►Assumption #2: Mental disorderAssumption #2: Mental disorder is caused by unresolvedis caused by unresolved conflictsconflicts These conflicts or over-use of ego-defenceThese conflicts or over-use of ego-defence mechanisms can result in disturbedmechanisms can result in disturbed behaviour.behaviour.
- 8. ““Tell me about your childhood…”Tell me about your childhood…” Psychosexual stagesPsychosexual stages ► Oral stageOral stage - 0 – 1 ½ years. Focus is on the mouth, pleasure- 0 – 1 ½ years. Focus is on the mouth, pleasure gained by eating and sucklinggained by eating and suckling ► Anal stageAnal stage - 1 ½ - 3 years. Focus is on the anus – expelling- 1 ½ - 3 years. Focus is on the anus – expelling and/or withholding faeces.and/or withholding faeces. ► Phallic stagePhallic stage - 3 – 6 years. Focus is on genitals and opposite-- 3 – 6 years. Focus is on genitals and opposite- sex parent.sex parent. Oedipus complex:Oedipus complex: The male child develops an intense attraction towards the mother and wants all rivalsThe male child develops an intense attraction towards the mother and wants all rivals for her affection out of the way. This leads to guilt.for her affection out of the way. This leads to guilt. Penis envy:Penis envy: The female child develops an intense attraction towards the father and blames theThe female child develops an intense attraction towards the father and blames the mother for not having a penis. Manifests in the desire to have a baby.mother for not having a penis. Manifests in the desire to have a baby. Both are resolved by identifying with the same-sex parent.Both are resolved by identifying with the same-sex parent. ► Latency stageLatency stage - 6 years – puberty. Nothing much happens.- 6 years – puberty. Nothing much happens. ► Genital stageGenital stage - Puberty onwards. Focus again on genitals as- Puberty onwards. Focus again on genitals as the source of pleasure and also on gaining independence.the source of pleasure and also on gaining independence.
- 9. ►Assumption #3: EarlyAssumption #3: Early experiences can cause mentalexperiences can cause mental disorderdisorder What happens in your development as childWhat happens in your development as child is absolutely essential to how you turn outis absolutely essential to how you turn out as an adult.as an adult. The ego isn’t developed enough to deal with traumas, so problems in childhood can stay in the unconscious and have enormous effect in later life.
- 10. TreatmentsTreatments ► Free association:Free association: Talking freely about whateverTalking freely about whatever comes to mind with the therapist.comes to mind with the therapist. ► Rich interpretation:Rich interpretation: The therapist explains theThe therapist explains the patients thoughts and feelings to them.patients thoughts and feelings to them. ► Dream analysis:Dream analysis: Dreams are seen as an expressionDreams are seen as an expression of the unconscious. The therapist can analyse andof the unconscious. The therapist can analyse and interpret the symbolic meaning of the patient’s dreams.interpret the symbolic meaning of the patient’s dreams. ► Assumption #4: The unconscious should be made conscious If you can access your unconscious thoughts, you can deal with the conflict and resolve the problem. This is what “psychoanalysis” therapy aims to do. ► Assumption #5: Treatment concerns the past If the source of mental disorders is unresolved conflict in childhood, then treatment should focus on past experiences rather than present behaviour.
- 11. Criticisms: TreatmentCriticisms: Treatment Ignores the present – what’s going on in the patient’s life now can be overlooked because of the focus on past experiences Only suitable for articulate, educated people who have the time, money and inclination to delve into their thoughts and feelings. Highly subjective – comes down to the psychiatrist’s own interpretation Non-falsifiable – very hard to prove a psychiatrist’s diagnosis wrong, since we are dealing with the unconscious
- 12. Criticisms: GeneralCriticisms: General +Highly influential – Freud had an enormous influence on our understanding of ourselves and our behaviour. Many of Freud’s ideas have been so absorbed by art, literature and the media that we take them for granted. Freud pretty much created psychology as a distinct subject and pioneered psychological treatments. Other schools of psychology often only developed as a response to the psychodynamic model − Too much emphasis on sex – reduces everything to sexual/physical factors, often ignoring other factors like the influence of society. Perhaps a reflection of the sexually repressed times that Freud lived in. −Poor research evidence – mostly based on case studies of individual patients. Most patients were middle class women suffering from mental disorders, so hard to generalise findings. “Little Hans” was Freud’s only case study of a child, so hard to draw conclusions about child development.
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