The theory of psychoanalysis takes its roots in the late nineteenth century. Freud's ideas were based on two important stages, which became prerequisites for the creation of psychoanalysis. First of all, this is the method developed by Joseph Breir, a doctor from Vienna, the second moment preceding Freud's theory is the method of the psychiatrist Ippolit Burnheim. Sigmund worked with Breyer for a short time, and the professor observed the work of the Burnheim method in one of the demonstrative training sessions. How to characterize the psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud briefly? It is worth starting with the origins.
Joseph Breyer Method
For several years, the Austrian psychiatrist worked on the development of a method called catharsis. Studies lasted from 1880 to 1882. The patient of the doctor was a girl at the age of 21 with paralysis of both right limbs and a complete lack of sensitivity. Also, the girl had an aversion to food and many other not only bodily, but also mental disorders. Dr. Breyer introduced the patient into hypnosis, through which he brought the girl to the point in life when experiences that traumatized the psyche appeared for the first time. He achieved the psychological and emotional state that was in his possession at that moment of his life and got rid of the symptoms of such a state that got stuck in his mind. The patient's medical history was a real breakthrough, and in 1895 Breuer and Freud published a joint work based on these data - a work called “Studies of Hysteria”. The experiences and disorders that provoked the symptoms of the disease were subsequently called mental injuries. Breyr's work had a significant impact on Sigmund Freud's Introduction to Psychoanalysis.
Hippolytus Burnheim Method
The psychiatrist also used hypnosis in the treatment process. The method of collegue had a great influence on Freud's work, since in 1889 Sigmund was present at one of Bernheim’s training classes. The lessons of a psychiatrist made it possible to derive concepts such as resistance and repression. These aspects are the protective mechanism of the psyche of any person. Subsequently, Freud used the method of free association instead of hypnosis. The result of the work was the introduction of the concept of a conscious substitute for crowding out the unconscious.
Psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud
The main ideological component of the theory and the concept of Freud's psychoanalysis is characterized by the following provisions: for both men and women, erotic disorders are the main factor leading to the development of the disease. Freud came to this conclusion because other emotional experiences do not give rise to repression and replacement. The psychoanalyst noted that other, non-erotic emotional disturbances do not lead to the same results, they do not have such significant significance, and even more - they contribute to the action of sexual moments and can never replace them. Such observations and problems of Freud's psychoanalysis were based on many years of practical experience and were described by the professor in his work On Psychoanalysis.
Freud also noted that only childhood experiences explain sensitivity to future injuries. This theory is described in Sigmund Freud's book Introduction to Psychoanalysis. And only by revealing in the minds of these childhood memories that are always forgotten in adulthood, we can get rid of the symptoms. Analytical work should reach the time of sexual development and early childhood. Freud carried out the substantiation of the proposed theory through the concept of "Oedipus complex" and the sequence of phases in the psychosexual development of each person. There are 4 stages in total and can be associated with the basic instincts: oral, anal, phallic, genital.
What is classical psychoanalysis?
The process of recognizing hidden in the depths of consciousness is carried out through the following methods and basic instincts:
- Free association method;
- Interpretation of dreams;
- The use of random reservations, as well as erroneous human actions.
Any session is based on one main rule - the patient must say absolutely everything, without fear and constraint. Freud wrote that everything that comes to mind should be said, even if at first glance the thoughts seem wrong or even meaningless to the patient. There is no room for critical choice. And only if you follow this rule it will be possible to "pull out" from the person the material that will enable the psychoanalyst to displace all complexes. This is how the essence of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis can be explained briefly.
Free association method
The basis of psychoanalysis is precisely the method of free association. The essence of the technique is that if some objects are perceived at the same time or in close proximity, then in the future the appearance in the consciousness of one of them may entail the realization of a completely different one.
Freud wrote that the patient sometimes suddenly falls silent and refers to the fact that he has nothing more to say and there are no thoughts in his head. However, if you look, one hundred percent refusal from the side of thoughts never happens in the human mind. Random reservations, erroneous actions - this is nothing but hidden desires, suppressed intentions and fears hidden in the depths of the subconscious. This is all that a person for some reason can not show to others and himself. This is how Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis can be summarized.
Dream interpretation
One of Freud's most popular theories was the interpretation of dreams. The psychoanalyst described dreams as messages of the unconscious part of the brain that are encrypted and represent meaningful images. When Freud was seventy years old, in 1931 the book "Interpretation of Dreams" was reprinted for the third time. The professor himself wrote that this work contains the most valuable of all the discoveries made by him in his entire life. Freud believed that such insights occur once in a person’s life.
Transfer process
The essence of the transfer process is that a person who does not fully satisfy the need for love draws attention to every new face, hoping to throw out his active libido power. That is why it is quite normal when these hopes turn in the direction of their psychoanalyst. The doctor, in turn, must clearly understand that the patient’s love for him is mostly forced, and in no way confirms the superiority of the psychoanalyst. The doctor has no reason to be serious about this state of affairs, and in no case should one be proud of such a “conquest”. In contrast to the transfer process, countertransference is put. When the analyst experiences unconscious feelings of response to the patient. Freud believed that this phenomenon is quite dangerous in the first place for the doctor. This is because such feelings can lead in the future to both mental illnesses. Each of the processes was described by Freud in books on psychoanalysis.
Resistance Processing Process
An important stage is the overcoming of resistance and psychoanalysis of the individual. It begins with the doctor opening to the patient those thoughts, feelings and resistances that were never previously recognized. After which the ward is given time to penetrate as deeply as possible into the resistance unknown to him until now, in order to further process and overcome it.
What are patient resistances? First of all, it is a mechanism that works on an unconscious level, and its task is to impede the recognition of those unacceptable thoughts and desires that were previously supplanted. Freud wrote that the processing of resistances is a very difficult part, and in practice it becomes truly painful not only for the patient. A real test of patience passes through a psychoanalyst. However, despite the complexity, it is this part of the work on consciousness that has the maximum changing effect on the patient. This is what distinguishes analytical treatment from suggestion treatment.
Catharsis
This process contributes to the release of repressed experiences, which traumatize the psyche through emotional discharge. This internal conflict is resolved at the neurotic level due to those memories and traumas that at one time were stuck in the psyche as negative emotions.
The technique of classical psychoanalysis
For a general presentation and description of the techniques of classical psychoanalysis, Freud used the following explanations:
- The psychoanalyst insisted that the patient should be lying on the couch or couch during the session, and the doctor, in turn, should be behind the patient so that he would not see him, but only hear him. This is because the facial expression of a psychoanalyst should not give the patient food for thought, and even less should not influence what the patient says.
- In no case should the patient be told what he should or should not talk about. The doctor must know about the patient everything that he knows about himself.
- The patient should say absolutely everything, not hiding names, dates, places and so on. In psychoanalysis, there are no secrets or modesty.
- During the session, the patient should fully surrender to unconscious memory. That is, a person must turn off a conscious effect on his memory. Simply put, you just need to listen and not think about whether you remember something or not.
- We must not forget about working with dreams, because this is one of the main methods of the theory of psychoanalysis. Freud believed that if you understand the unconscious needs of man, which are expressed in dreams, you can find the key to solving the very basic problem;
It is possible to disclose to the patient all the information received, to explain the meaning of his thoughts and condition not earlier than the moment when the transfer process begins. The patient should be tied to a doctor, and this will only take time.
Scope and Warranties
Briefly about the psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud and the scope of the theory we can say the following: the professor mentioned that psychoanalysis in its classical sense is not designed for people older than 50 years. He explained this by the fact that older people had already lost the flexibility of emotional experiences, to which the action of therapy is directed. It is not recommended to arrange sessions of psychoanalysis in relation to loved ones. Freud wrote that he felt confused about the relatives and said that he did not believe in the individual impact on their subconscious. Also, some patients are asked to eliminate one specific symptom before starting work, but the doctor cannot be held responsible for the selective power of the analysis. You can hurt what is "not necessary", at least by the associative method. Usually, psychoanalysis is a very long process that can take years. Freud noted that it gives each patient the opportunity to say “stop” and stop treatment at any time. However, a short treatment can create the effect of an incomplete operation, which in the future can only aggravate the situation. The scope of the method is described in more detail in the works of Sigmund Freud.
Critique of the Theory of Psychoanalysis
Freud's theory of psychoanalysis is causing a storm of discussion to this day. First of all, because some of the provisions do not have a method of refutation, which means they are unscientific. Paul Bloom (professor of psychology) expressed his point of view, who wrote that the provisions of Freud's theory are vague and cannot be verified by any scientifically reliable method. That is why they can not be used from a scientific point of view.
The well-known biologist Peter Medawar, who at one time was awarded the Nobel Prize, spoke in the same vein. The professor described the theory of psychoanalysis as the greatest intellectual fraud of the twentieth century. The same opinion was shared by the philosopher Leslie Stevenson, who analyzed Freud's theory in his book.
Freud also had followers, among whom there were such famous personalities as Erich Fromm, Karl Gustav Jung, Karen Horney, Alfred Adler. However, in their future studies, they also refused the key thought and ideas of Freud's psychoanalysis - that the main motive for the occurrence of psychological trauma is nothing more than a sexual factor. The study changed directions in the direction of the impact of social and cultural elements of society and the environment on the mental and psychological state of a person.