Psychoanalysis & Psychodynamic Psychology
lesson V. Psychodynamic Perspectives on mental
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| lesson V. Psychodynamic Perspectives on mental Disorders and treatment i. mental Disorders Modern psychodynamic theory has developed several different but overlapping approaches to explain psychopathology (mental disorders and human emotional suffering. These include object relations theory and self-psychology in addition to what is called modern structural theory, derived from Freud’s structural model of the mind, which he introduced in the s. We focus hereon the modern structural theory of psychopathology. A. Modern structural theory (based on Freud’s structural theory of the mind) — This theory focuses on the individual’s need to find the most effective balance among the expression of instinctual wishes (e.g., sexual and aggressive desires, Superego reactions (e.g., guilt, and the best possible adaptation to the environment. B. Compromise formation—The theory of compromise formation is central to modern structural theory. According to the theory of compromise formation, the mind works to allow an instinctual wish the greatest freedom of expression with the least unpleasant emotional consequences (e.g., guilt, 16 anxiety, depression. In other words, the Ego tries to find the best compromise between the Id, the Superego, and the demands of reality. All expressions of the mind—thoughts, jokes, symptoms, dreams—are compromise formations. C. Pathological compromise formations—Pathological compromise formations lie at the core of psychopathology. Pathological compromise formations are characterized by excessive guilt, insufficient gratification, or overwhelming anxiety or depression. They are defined as neurotic if the compromise formations cause mild but significant distress or impairment. The role of unconscious guilt—Unconscious guilt plays a central role in psychodynamic theories of neurotic difficulties, leading, for instance, to inhibitions (inability to actor self-destructive behaviors. The centrality of unconscious processes—Compromise formations work outside of consciousness Symptoms are experienced consciously, while the underlying conflicts are not. The wide range of psychological difficulties—While Freud focused on neurotic difficulties (e.g., anxiety disorders, psychoanalysts in recent decades have addressed a much wider range of disorders, including borderline (in between neurotic and psychotic) disorders. Download 283.67 Kb. Share with your friends:
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