Psychodynamic counselling is a model that uses psychoanalytic concepts to explain human growth and development, and the nature of psychological problems. The roots of psychodynamic or psychoanalytic approach belong to the psychoanalytic theory introduced by Sigmund Freud, who broadened the field of Psychology and gave it a new exciting look (Gibson & Mitchell, 2003). The term psychodynamic means 'pertaining to the laws of mental action'. It indicates that there are some principles that determine the relationship between mind and action.
According to Freud, human mind is like a vast submerged iceberg. What is there in the conscious awareness is just the tip of this iceberg above the sea level. Psychoanalytic theory hypothesized that human mind has three parts: conscious, pre-conscious and unconscious. The conscious part of the mind includes everything we are aware of at a given moment, including thoughts, perceptions, feelings and memories (Coon, 1992). It is the region that pokes through in to the light of awareness (Rathus, 1996). The preconscious contains elements of experiences that are presently unaware, but that can be easily brought to awareness. The unconscious mind is shrouded in mystery. It contains biological instincts such as sex and aggression (Rathus, 1996). Some unconscious urges cannot be experienced consciously, because mental images and words could not portray them in all their colour and fury. Other unconscious urges may be kept below the surface by repression (Rathus, 1996).
According to psychoanalytic theory, personality is divided into three major systems – the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is innate in human beings since birth. Id follows pleasure principle. It provides the drive for the pursuit of personal wants (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003). Ego is the rational element, which has contact with the world of reality. Ego follows reality principle. It controls our consciousness and provides realistic and logical thinking. It will also moderate the desires of id (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003). Superego represents the conscience of the mind. Superego follows morality principle. It is in super-ego, pride, self love, punishments and feeling of guilt or inferiority existed (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003).
Superego is always aware of the impulses of the id because both of these exist in the unconscious part of the mind. Superego will direct ego to control id (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003). Controlling id means, controlling the basic instincts of pleasure seeking. The basic instincts in human beings, according to Freud, are life instinct and death instinct. Life instinct is expressed through sex and death instinct is expressed through aggression. When these basic instincts are brought under control, the consequences are tension, conflict and anxiety. Human behavior is inevitably directed towards the reduction of this tension (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003).
Current psychodynamic counselling draws from a much wider range of theoretical influences. The theory suggests that we are unaware of many of our motives and that if these are known to us we are able to make better, less conflicted choices. However we are often resistant to or defended against recognition these hidden motives. By the arrival of neo-freudians, like Anna Freud, Erich Fromme, Karen Hornye etc. the mechanisms used to defend the unconscious motives were theoretically expanded.
Defense mechanisms help the individuals to reduce tensions, adapting to the situations. For the most part, these are normal and operate at an unconscious level. According to the psychodynamic theory, defense mechanism is an unconscious function of the ego that protects it from anxiety-evoking material by preventing accurate recognition of this material (Rathus, 1996). Some of the defense mechanisms are repression, rationalization, regression, identification, displacement, overcompensation, projection, introjection. People who overuse defense mechanisms become less adaptable, because they consume great amounts of emotional energy to control anxiety and to maintain an unrealistic self-image (Coon, 1999).
Repression is the automatic ejection of anxiety-evoking ideas from awareness (Rathus, 1996). It is viewed as the basic defense mechanism (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003). People used to repress ugly childhood experiences (Myers & Brewin, 1994). Repression is the defense mechanism that protects us from perceiving morally unacceptable impulses (Rathus, 1996). We protect ourselves by repressing thoughts or impulses that are painful and threatening. Feelings of hostility toward a loved one, the names of disliked people, and past failures and embarrassments are common targets of repression (Coon, 1999).
Regression is characterized by the return, under stress, to a form of behaviour of an earlier stage of development (Rathus, 1996). Most parents who have a second child have to put up with at least some regression by the older child. Threatened by a new rival for attention, an older child may regress to childish speech, bed-wetting, or infantile play after the new baby arrives (Coon, 1999). An adult who throws a temper tantrum or a married adult who “goes home to mother”, after arguments with the spouse are examples of regression.
Rationalization is the use of self-deceiving justifications for unacceptable behaviour (Rathus, 1996). For example, anyone who cheats on giving income tax will say ‘everyone does it.’ Rationalization provides us with reasons for behaviour we ourselves find somewhat questionable.
Displacement is the transfer of ideas and impulses from threatening of unsuitable objects to less threatening objects (Rathus, 1996). For example, a worker picks a fight with spouse after criticized sharply by the supervisor.
Projection is the thrusting of one’s own unacceptable impulses on to others so that others are assumed to harbor them (Rathus, 1996). Example is the perception of a hostile person that the world is a dangerous place. Projection is an unconscious process that protects us from the anxiety that would occur if we were to discern our own faults or unacceptable traits. A person who is projecting tends to see his or her own shortcomings or unacceptable impulses in others. Projection lowers anxiety by exaggerating negative traits in others while directing attention away from one’s own failures.
Reaction formation is a defense in which impulses are not only repressed, but are also held in check by exaggerated opposite behaviour. The basic ides in reaction formation is that the individual acts out an opposite behaviour to block threatening impulses or feeling. For example, a mother who unconsciously resents her children may, through reaction formation, become absurdly overprotective and overindulgent. Her real thoughts of “I hate them” and “I wish they were gone” are replaced by “I love them” and “I don’t know what I would do without them”.
Denial is the refusal to accept the true nature of a threat (Rathus, 1996). If a person who smokes heavily thinks ‘cancer can never happen to me’, it is denial. Denial is one of the most basic defense mechanisms. It protects the individual from an unpleasant reality by refusing to accept it or believe it (Coon, 1999).
According to Freud, human mind is like a vast submerged iceberg. What is there in the conscious awareness is just the tip of this iceberg above the sea level. Psychoanalytic theory hypothesized that human mind has three parts: conscious, pre-conscious and unconscious. The conscious part of the mind includes everything we are aware of at a given moment, including thoughts, perceptions, feelings and memories (Coon, 1992). It is the region that pokes through in to the light of awareness (Rathus, 1996). The preconscious contains elements of experiences that are presently unaware, but that can be easily brought to awareness. The unconscious mind is shrouded in mystery. It contains biological instincts such as sex and aggression (Rathus, 1996). Some unconscious urges cannot be experienced consciously, because mental images and words could not portray them in all their colour and fury. Other unconscious urges may be kept below the surface by repression (Rathus, 1996).
According to psychoanalytic theory, personality is divided into three major systems – the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is innate in human beings since birth. Id follows pleasure principle. It provides the drive for the pursuit of personal wants (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003). Ego is the rational element, which has contact with the world of reality. Ego follows reality principle. It controls our consciousness and provides realistic and logical thinking. It will also moderate the desires of id (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003). Superego represents the conscience of the mind. Superego follows morality principle. It is in super-ego, pride, self love, punishments and feeling of guilt or inferiority existed (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003).
Superego is always aware of the impulses of the id because both of these exist in the unconscious part of the mind. Superego will direct ego to control id (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003). Controlling id means, controlling the basic instincts of pleasure seeking. The basic instincts in human beings, according to Freud, are life instinct and death instinct. Life instinct is expressed through sex and death instinct is expressed through aggression. When these basic instincts are brought under control, the consequences are tension, conflict and anxiety. Human behavior is inevitably directed towards the reduction of this tension (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003).
Current psychodynamic counselling draws from a much wider range of theoretical influences. The theory suggests that we are unaware of many of our motives and that if these are known to us we are able to make better, less conflicted choices. However we are often resistant to or defended against recognition these hidden motives. By the arrival of neo-freudians, like Anna Freud, Erich Fromme, Karen Hornye etc. the mechanisms used to defend the unconscious motives were theoretically expanded.
Defense mechanisms help the individuals to reduce tensions, adapting to the situations. For the most part, these are normal and operate at an unconscious level. According to the psychodynamic theory, defense mechanism is an unconscious function of the ego that protects it from anxiety-evoking material by preventing accurate recognition of this material (Rathus, 1996). Some of the defense mechanisms are repression, rationalization, regression, identification, displacement, overcompensation, projection, introjection. People who overuse defense mechanisms become less adaptable, because they consume great amounts of emotional energy to control anxiety and to maintain an unrealistic self-image (Coon, 1999).
Repression is the automatic ejection of anxiety-evoking ideas from awareness (Rathus, 1996). It is viewed as the basic defense mechanism (Gibson and Mitchell, 2003). People used to repress ugly childhood experiences (Myers & Brewin, 1994). Repression is the defense mechanism that protects us from perceiving morally unacceptable impulses (Rathus, 1996). We protect ourselves by repressing thoughts or impulses that are painful and threatening. Feelings of hostility toward a loved one, the names of disliked people, and past failures and embarrassments are common targets of repression (Coon, 1999).
Regression is characterized by the return, under stress, to a form of behaviour of an earlier stage of development (Rathus, 1996). Most parents who have a second child have to put up with at least some regression by the older child. Threatened by a new rival for attention, an older child may regress to childish speech, bed-wetting, or infantile play after the new baby arrives (Coon, 1999). An adult who throws a temper tantrum or a married adult who “goes home to mother”, after arguments with the spouse are examples of regression.
Rationalization is the use of self-deceiving justifications for unacceptable behaviour (Rathus, 1996). For example, anyone who cheats on giving income tax will say ‘everyone does it.’ Rationalization provides us with reasons for behaviour we ourselves find somewhat questionable.
Displacement is the transfer of ideas and impulses from threatening of unsuitable objects to less threatening objects (Rathus, 1996). For example, a worker picks a fight with spouse after criticized sharply by the supervisor.
Projection is the thrusting of one’s own unacceptable impulses on to others so that others are assumed to harbor them (Rathus, 1996). Example is the perception of a hostile person that the world is a dangerous place. Projection is an unconscious process that protects us from the anxiety that would occur if we were to discern our own faults or unacceptable traits. A person who is projecting tends to see his or her own shortcomings or unacceptable impulses in others. Projection lowers anxiety by exaggerating negative traits in others while directing attention away from one’s own failures.
Reaction formation is a defense in which impulses are not only repressed, but are also held in check by exaggerated opposite behaviour. The basic ides in reaction formation is that the individual acts out an opposite behaviour to block threatening impulses or feeling. For example, a mother who unconsciously resents her children may, through reaction formation, become absurdly overprotective and overindulgent. Her real thoughts of “I hate them” and “I wish they were gone” are replaced by “I love them” and “I don’t know what I would do without them”.
Denial is the refusal to accept the true nature of a threat (Rathus, 1996). If a person who smokes heavily thinks ‘cancer can never happen to me’, it is denial. Denial is one of the most basic defense mechanisms. It protects the individual from an unpleasant reality by refusing to accept it or believe it (Coon, 1999).
Sublimation is the channeling of primitive impulses into positive, constructive efforts (Rathus, 1996). If a hostile person becomes a tennis star, it is sublimation. Freud believed that art, music, dance, poetry, scientific investigation, and other creative activities can serve to re-channel sexual energies into productive behaviour. Freud also felt that almost any strong desire can be sublimated. Greed may be refined into a successful business career. Lying may be sublimated into storytelling, creative writing, or politics (Coon, 1999).
References:
Coon, D., (1999). Introduction to Psychology: Exploration and Application. West Publishing Company, NY.
Gibson, R. L. & Mitchell, M. H. (2003). Introduction to Counselling and Guidance. Pearson Education, Inc.
Myers, L. B., & Brewin, C. R. (1994). Recall of Early Experience and the Repressive Coping Style. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 288-292.
Rathus, S. A., (1996). Psychology in the New Millenium. Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
