Sigmund Freud's Defense Mechanism and Phobic Disorder - Assignment Example

1. a) It is common to hear the description of being in a state of denial. This is basically the act of trying to block the mind from internalizing the events happening around them. Although this coordination of the mind helps to deal with the anxious self, such a defense strategy does not get rid of the reality at hand and can prove detrimental in the long run. A good example is a terrorist attack that took place yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya. Footages from the scene showed how people scrambled for safety after two bombs were detonated by the terrorists. While the attack was an ambush and some people did not believe the situation they had found themselves in, denying the risk at hand could not have been a viable defense mechanism at the point. They had to take swift action and look after their lives and those of others.
2. b) This means rechanneling an impulse onto an alternative target. According to Freud this usually happens in an instance where the initial target of the impulse is too threatening or unwelcoming. For example, a woman who has suffered a break-up in her relation due to infidelity may redirect her to all other men and create stereotypes surrounding their past experiences.
3. c) Reaction formation. This mechanism is described as the action of changing transforming an unacceptable impulse into the opposite – doing the opposite of what is expected in a given situation. According to Freud, this technique is common among children between seven and eleven years. However, it can also be witnessed among adults. For example, after a fierce quarrel between a wife and a husband, the husband may come back from work happier than he left and embrace their spouses as if nothing had happened between them.

Question 2: Psychoanalytic Perspective vs. Humanistic Perspective

Similarity

There are clear distinctions that can be derived from the issues raised by Sigmund Freud in his psychoanalytic theory and the arguments made by humanists such as Abraham Maslow. Even so, the two perspectives also depict some similarities. For example, both theories have been criticized for the lack of empirical research. This is partly because the psychoanalytic perspective was developed at a time when personality psychology was at its infancy stages. On the other hand, critics of the humanistic approach submit that the theory is utterly ambiguous because it commonly refers to matters of common sense.

Difference

The main notable difference between the two perspectives is with regards to their view of human nature. While the humanistic theory focuses on the positive aspects of humans, the psychoanalytic perspective is of the view that it is the nature of humans to be evil. Inside of them are monsters that are lying dormant in the unconscious mind, an implication that humans are often driven by the id, which Freud argues is full of self-centeredness.

Question 3: The Link between Schizophrenia and Socioeconomic Status

Poverty and mental illness have a close relationship because the former can lead to the latter. People born in low socioeconomic backgrounds are likely to develop schizophrenia due to numerous issues that accompany poverty. For example, poor people are unlikely to get a quality education to guarantee them employment in the contemporary world. As a result, they end up living low standards, unable to pay for their bills – including healthcare bills. Studies have found that such problems that deny people peace of mind are the most likely causes of schizophrenia among poor people.

Question 4: Phobic Disorder

The phobic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that is characterized by heightened fear of an or situation that persists for a long period – more than 6 months. The types of phobic disorder are done with respect to how the patient reacts to the phobia. Hence, there are two categories of phobic disorder: specific phobia and social phobia. Specific phobia is the fear that strikes a person, which may result in fainting or panicking when they encounter their phobia – an object or a situation. On the other hand, social phobia is the anxiety that takes place in front of many people, and which may lead to embarrassment or humiliation.

Question 5: Subtypes of Schizophrenia a)    Paranoid schizophrenia: This refers to the delusional thoughts that affect a patient, especially in their teenage and youth. It is the most common subtype and is similar to psychosis.

1. b) Schizoaffective disorder: This takes place when schizophrenia is accompanied by symptoms of other disorders such as depression and mania.
2. c) Catatonic Disorder: This type of disorder can only be detected in a patient’s actions, which may sometimes be confused for alcohol and drugs.
3. d) Disorganized Schizophrenia: This is present in an instance where the patient’s speech, behavior, and thoughts are not well-coordinated
4. e) Residual Schizophrenia: This is the least harmful and hardest to detect a form of schizophrenia because the patient does not portray any symptoms of paranoia or delusion. Unlike all the other types that are chronic, residual schizophrenia may disappear and reappear in the future.