Freud and Psychoanalysis Overview

Overview

This lecture introduces clinical psychology through the history and theories of Sigmund Freud, focusing on psychoanalysis, the unconscious mind, and psychosexual development.

Introduction to Clinical Psychology

• Clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, distinct from general psychology's broader research topics.
• The field trains therapists and researches mental disorders.

Freud and Psychoanalysis

• Sigmund Freud founded psychoanalysis, a method for treating mental illness by exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings.
• Psychoanalysis aims to make repressed emotions conscious to cure psychological issues.
• Techniques include free association (talking freely), dream analysis, and addressing transference (redirected feelings toward the therapist).

Freud’s Theory of the Mind

• Freud theorized the mind consists of the id (basic impulses), ego (rational balance), and superego (moral conscience).
• The id seeks pleasure, the superego enforces morality, and the ego mediates between them.
• Defense mechanisms like denial or displacement are used by the ego to reduce psychological conflict.

The Unconscious Mind and Repression

• Freud believed the unconscious mind stores repressed thoughts that influence behavior and may surface as “Freudian slips.”
• Dreams fulfill repressed wishes and contain manifest (remembered) and latent (hidden) content.

Psychosexual Development Theory

• Freud proposed stages of psychosexual development: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.
• Fixation at any stage may lead to specific personality traits or behaviors.
• The Oedipus complex (boys) and Electra complex (girls) involve resolving unconscious desires and identifying with the same-sex parent.

Critiques and Modern Perspective

• Most elements of Freudian theory are not scientifically supported or testable today.
• Some concepts, like the value of open dialogue in therapy, persist in modern practice.
• Psychoanalysis has been largely replaced by cognitive and biological approaches.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Psychoanalysis — Freud’s therapeutic approach to uncover unconscious conflicts.
• Unconscious Mind — Mental processes inaccessible to conscious thought but influencing behavior.
• Id — Instinctual, pleasure-seeking part of the psyche.
• Ego — Rational part that mediates id and superego.
• Superego — Internalized moral standards and conscience.
• Defense Mechanisms — Psychological strategies to cope with conflict or stress.
• Transference — Redirecting feelings for others onto the therapist.
• Oedipus Complex — A boy’s unconscious desire for his mother and rivalry with his father.
• Electra Complex — A girl’s unconscious competition with her mother for her father’s attention.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review Freud's major theories and be prepared to discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
• Prepare for the next tutorial on modern therapy approaches.