Psychoanalysis: Freud and the Neo-Freudians Psychoanalysis is a set of theories and therapeutic techniques related to the study of the unconscious mind, which together form a method of treatment for mental-health disorders. The discipline of psychoanalysis was established in the early 1890s by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Precursors for Freuds psychoanalysis include Leibniz with his monadology, which showed levels of awareness ranging by perception; Goethe and his views and descriptions of human existence as a constant struggle between conflicting emotions and tendencies; Hegel’s discussion of the resolution of conflicting forces as an explanation for human nature; Herbart’s idea of repression; Schopenhauer believed that humans are
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Sigmund Freud Within Freud’s psychoanalysis constructs exist for instance the idea of resistance which Freud discovered when patients who were asked to recall the first time they began experiencing particular symptoms usually stopped just short of the goal. Resistance is defined as the tendency for patients to inhibit the recollection of traumatic experiences. Another construct of psychoanalysis is free association which is Freud’s major tool for studying the contents of the unconscious mind. With free association, a patient is encouraged to express freely everything that comes to his or her mind. Lastly, repression which is another construct of psychoanalysis that is defined as the holding in of traumatic memories in the unconscious mind because pondering them consciously would cause too much anxiety (Freud, …show more content…
Consciousness consists of the things that we are aware of at any given moment. The preconscious consists of the things of which we could easily become aware. The unconscious consists of the thoughts and feelings that are being actively repressed from consciousness and are only made conscious with great effort (Rychlak, 1968). Freud defined personality in three parts the id, ego, and superego. The id is the generative force of the personality. The id contains instincts also known as drives such as hunger, thirst, and need for sex. The id is located within the unconscious and is driven by the pleasure principle. The ego part of the personality mediates the demands of the id, the superego and reality (Lapsley & Stey, 2011). The ego prevents us from acting on our basic urges created by the id, but also works to achieve a balance with our moral and idealistic standards created by the superego. The ego is said to be governed by the reality principle which works to satisfy the id's desires in a manner that is realistic and socially acceptable (Alexander, 1935). The superego is the moral sense of the personality. The developed superego is divided into two separate entities: the conscience and also the ego-ideal. The superego strives for moral perfections, without taking reality into account (Lapsley & Stey,
Sigmund Freud Within Freud’s psychoanalysis constructs exist for instance the idea of resistance which Freud discovered when patients who were asked to recall the first time they began experiencing particular symptoms usually stopped just short of the goal. Resistance is defined as the tendency for patients to inhibit the recollection of traumatic experiences. Another construct of psychoanalysis is free association which is Freud’s major tool for studying the contents of the unconscious mind. With free association, a patient is encouraged to express freely everything that comes to his or her mind. Lastly, repression which is another construct of psychoanalysis that is defined as the holding in of traumatic memories in the unconscious mind because pondering them consciously would cause too much anxiety (Freud, …show more content…
Consciousness consists of the things that we are aware of at any given moment. The preconscious consists of the things of which we could easily become aware. The unconscious consists of the thoughts and feelings that are being actively repressed from consciousness and are only made conscious with great effort (Rychlak, 1968). Freud defined personality in three parts the id, ego, and superego. The id is the generative force of the personality. The id contains instincts also known as drives such as hunger, thirst, and need for sex. The id is located within the unconscious and is driven by the pleasure principle. The ego part of the personality mediates the demands of the id, the superego and reality (Lapsley & Stey, 2011). The ego prevents us from acting on our basic urges created by the id, but also works to achieve a balance with our moral and idealistic standards created by the superego. The ego is said to be governed by the reality principle which works to satisfy the id's desires in a manner that is realistic and socially acceptable (Alexander, 1935). The superego is the moral sense of the personality. The developed superego is divided into two separate entities: the conscience and also the ego-ideal. The superego strives for moral perfections, without taking reality into account (Lapsley & Stey,