Sigmund Freud - Essay Example

Sigmund Freud psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud is the major proponent of psychoanalysis who developed psychoanalysis betweenthe years 1916-1917.The major argument behind this theory is that people could get cured, by making conscious some of their unconscious thoughts, and also some of their motivations. In doing so, he believed that his patients would gain insight (Freud, 1937). Hence, it can be said that the essence of Psychoanalysis, is to release some of the repressed emotions and also the individual experiences, thus making the unconscious art of the brain, conscious. Some of the personality disorders, for example, depression and the anxiety disorders, can be treated using psychoanalysis. The theory carries with it some weighty assumptions. One is that, we as individuals, know components of psyche, we know about the brain and also the nervous system. The second assumption is that we know how we act unconsciously. Hence psychoanalysis studies the suppression of some of the basic instincts (Freud 1937). According to Freud this suppression is constant and ongoing. Psychoanalysis may speed up the rates at which clients get better. It is also vital to note that, the nature of psychoanalysis creates a power imbalance, between the physician and the client. The id can be termed to be the most valuable part of the psyche. It usually contains urges that are extremely primitive. It is comprised of all the basic biological urges. A good example of some of this urges are hunger, thirst and sex. This part of psyche usually seeks pressure blindly. It does not care about the consequences; its aim is to seek instant gratification. Ego is developed from the id. It seeks to satisfy the id; it does so in a precise practical manner. It decides whether or not satisfaction is appropriate, and if favourable with the outside world. Commonly the ego is called self since it has the capability to look after itself. The superego is the third portion of the psyche; it develops with maturity. It has the sole responsibility of deeming the person’s actions good or bad. For Freud, there is a constant conflict between demands of the instincts and the demands of the society (Freud 1937). This can be caused by some of the impulses that may be hidden or even denied for lengths of time. However, this demands, in one way or another, reasserts themselves. The inner conflict is usually unknown and hence, it appears in thoughts and deeds that appear to be irrational. Psychologists that use psychoanalysis often see their patient’s problems as rooted in the unconscious part of their minds. When the disturbances occur on the subconscious part of the mind,some revealable symptoms are, exposed (Bib ring Edward 1937). Causes of some of the issues affecting the subconscious may arise from some unresolved issue during the development or even repressed trauma. Hence the approach most physicians use on patients who portrays some of these symptoms is therapeutic. Psychoanalysts using the psychoanalysis approach will try to develop connections between them and patients who are neurotic or even psychotic in nature. It is worth noting that psychoanalysts should put away all his perceived thoughts about the patient and try to explain, how he has been influenced by the unconscious. The aim would be to try and redirect the patient ego, back to it normal self. This will enable them have a balanced mental life. In this, we clearly have analytically defined the situation, according to psychoanalysis. In some cases, the process may become so resistive. This means that no notable change will happen on the side of the patient. At this point then, physician should abandon the co temporal thinking, resistance often occurs when the client, is reluctant to say what he or she is thinking. However, to a large extent, the presence of resistance, often is a clue that the patient is coming extremely close to a repressed idea in their thoughts. A physician at this point, needs to be careful, at this point further probing of the patient by the physician is called for. Some patients at times are unable to improve in their condition no matter how much they demand the unconscious improvement of themselves. Freud experienced a similar situation; he came up with an idea of supporting therapy through a positive transfer approach. When the physician uses a positive approach in such a case, it will mean they will be able to overcome the problem in the unconscious mind, which will be a representation of a resistance to change. According to Freud, it is possible to achieve the healing process through love, this is according to a letter Freud wrote to Carl Jung in 1906, (Freud, 1937). A physician should let his patients have confidence in him. This will help them develop unique attachments to the physicians which will positively influence the patient to a quick recovery. The best approach is to use words and also signs that the patient can identify with, and which will portray physician as being affectionate. Some constant shortcomings are also present. According to Freud, the crucial one concerned with the transference neurosis (Freud, 1916-17a) if the physician does not have a thorough analysis and recognition, then the patient associative process becomes blocked, this will cause them to appear as if they were not on treatment. When the patients become free associating to the physicians, they often experience an intense and extraordinarily vivid memory. This will contribute greatly to the patients relieve on what is on their minds. The instance of a “flashback is experienced at this point. The patient will experience what is commonly referred to as an abreaction, this is a situation experienced by patient where they see a grievous issue that happened in the past as happening again. Some individuals have tried to describe ways in which they would use essential modes, to be able to tackle the problem associated with therapy. Freud, (1937) tried to describe what is commonly referred to as the “therapeutic, alliance.” This was to happen between the patient healthy ego and the physician. He rhymed with Sigmund Freud in trying to establish the analytic situation. The analytic situation, therefore, in this situation would be the, unconquered parts of the patient need and the need to integrate them into their ego; however, this merging sometimes do fail. The ego for the merging should be a normal ego. Different people will also see different things depending on the unconscious connections that the sometimes make though psychoanalysis is concerned with the offering of interpretation to the patients, it is subjective to personal opinions. This is because, it is not well explained if the subjects who would undergo the treatment method get better. There can also be other forms of therapy treatment that can be better Work Cited Freud, Anna. The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence. Hog art Press and Institute of Psychoanalysis, London.1937. Print Read More