Theory And Freud's Psychoanalytical Approach: A Case Study

Overview of the approach

Question:

Essay on theory/practise to demonstrate understanding of the nexus between theory and practice, by describing the theoretical rationale for a technical approach to a given presentation.
 

The theory can be described as the methodical classification of the information and knowledge, which are functional in solving the problem. In other words, theory can be defined as a set of various details related to the specific theme, as well as, is the tool that can be utilized in explaining, predicting, as well as, understanding the particular topic. Moreover, theories are considered to be a primary part of all the informed practice. Theory can be used in explaining the certain phenomena regarding the particular setting, as well as, it should address all the related practice problems. As per scholars like Creswell, the main focus and the aim of the theory is related to its application. There exists a reciprocal relationship between theory and practice (Shin, 2007). The practice is unable to position itself without the implications of the theoretical questions used in guiding the research. Further, the relationship existing between the theory and the practice is symbiotic, which means that an advance in any one of them automatically needs the modification of the second one. As in, if there is an advancement seen in the theory, then certainly advancement in the practice will be there and vice versa. A theory can be utilized to explain the various parameters like collection, classification, analysis, storage, dissemination of information, as well as, recovery while providing the required framework to be used for analysis (Snow, 2013).  

The study, which is going to be analyzed further consists of Hary who is a 35-year-old male who is a school teacher by profession and who has been recently hospitalized, because of the presentation of some psychological symptoms. The approaches, which have been put into consideration for the treatment of Hary consists of the Freud's psychoanalytical approach. As per the psychoanalytical approach, it has been hypothesized that the symptoms of Hary have occurred due to some inner conflicts, which resulted as the outcome of the various psychosexual stages that had not been accomplished. Hence, under this method, the discussion related to some of the defense mechanisms has been done, which seems to influence Hary's anxiety. As a result, the approach is being evaluated regarding Hary's case. Further, assessment methods are also evaluated to establish the appropriate method, as well as, to gather more information for Hary's treatment (Andersson, 2002).

Overview of the approach: As per Freud's psychoanalytical theory, the behavior of the human is explained by different conflicts, which develops because of the unconscious sexual, as well as, aggression drives in an individual. To meet the various norms of the society, the individuals make attempts to control all these drives, which in turn produces the conflict within us. There are basically three different structures, which interact together and results in this conflict, they are id, ego, as well as, super-ego (Tomic, 2009). Further, the unconscious id is based on the pleasure principle and satisfying immediate wants irrespective of the references to various external consequences, whereas the conscious super-ego focuses on meeting the expectations that are considered for the norm of the society. As an outcome, the resulting conflict existing between these two structures is then controlled by the ego that struggles in meeting the principle of reality; that is to do what is possible but also is practical (Quinodoz, 2010).

Case study and client information

Case study and client information: The case study is based on the patient whose name is Hary and is a 35-year-old male who is a teacher by his profession. Hary has been suffering from psychological issues and is positive for those psychological symptoms. As a result, he recently has been hospitalized due to the increased problems related to the psychological issues. Hary works as a high school teacher whose main job is to teach physical education to the students, as well as, he also provides coaching to the school track team. It has been observed that Hary has been involved in making false statements like being the coach and providing training for the Olympic track. Moreover, Hary used to become enraged very soon by minor provocation only. Hence, Hary has been now hospitalized (Finset, Graugaard, & Holgersen, 2006). His past medical history revealed that during university, Hary attended various counselling where he was prescribed some anti-depressants due to the presence of signs and symptoms which incongruent to the normal personality of Hary. Prior to Hary’s hospitalization, he presented the same symptoms during his first episode. Moreover, he reported that he used to experience constant worrying regarding his job, as well as, the team. From the family’s point of view, Hary has become anxious, tensed, and depressed ("Supplemental Material for The Relation Between Trauma Exposure and Prosocial Behavior", 2012). Moreover, his family members reported that Hary spends ample of his time in sleeping or staring at the ceiling.  Hary has recently quit his job reporting, personal incompetence, as well as, he sees suicide to be the only possible solution of all the current problems.

Freud's Psychoanalytical Approach: The formation of the symptoms. According to Freud’s statement all the adult experiences are originated from the different childhood experiences, as well as, the issues like attachment with the parents, experience of traumas in the childhood, or losses encountered as a child. These all factors can impact the current relationships, as well as, the development of an individual. As per Freud's hypothesis based on the psychosexual stage during Hary’s phallic phase when he should have been building a relationship and attachment to his father, Hary was experiencing trauma due to the regular arguing of his parents. In addition, his father's drinking habits were also the hindering parameters that hindered the formation of the relationship, as well as, the attachment between the son and the father. As per Freud’s theory, these reasons led to the development of the issues in Hary’s adult life (Friedman, 2009).

Further, from the perspective of Freud, Hary's problems manifest based on the conflict, which  he is facing within himself, which means that when conflicts arise among the id, as well as, the superego, certain defense mechanisms are initiated by the ego to reduce the level of his  anxiety. Some of the defense mechanisms, which strongly fits the behavior of Hary that is being displayed in the past, as well as, at present are described. Using the defense of sublimation, it is argued that Hary has mentally shut out that seems to affect and trouble Hary by converting the anxiety to something else. As the observation of Hary’s long hours of sleeping can be interpreted  that there is transference of anxiety to the other medium which is sleeping more to minimize Hary’s thinking regarding various issues. Hary might visualize sleeping more as a something, which is under his conscious control for shutting out all the issues he is experiencing (Honneth, 2006).

Freud's Psychoanalytical Approach: The formation of the symptoms

Secondly, Hary mentioned that he experiences constant worrying regarding his job and team, combined with Hary’s later action consisting of quitting the job, Hary could have engaged in the defense mechanism called to be repression; which means that the person consciously runs away from the problems and ignores the issues instead of confronting them. This is exemplified by seeing that Hary decided to quit the job was the best way for dealing with all the work-related concerns, which was dealt best by leaving that circumstance that was involved in eliciting those feelings (Keskin & Çam, 2010). Finally, regarding his thinking that he is an Olympic coach; to deal with his level of anxiety, the defense mechanism related to dissociation can be observed in the progress. It occurs  when the patient undergoes mental shuts out of all the awful events and outcomes in an event of  avoiding it. However, as per Freud’s statement the one of the important by-products related to the dissociation is that in some cases it can lead to having the feeling of living two distinct lives (Mechoulan & Schey, 2013).

The aim and focus of the Freud's assessment are making patients understand the reason behind the cause of their conflict, as well as, in that essence the individual must realize his or her own wishes, capabilities, as well as, talents, while still facing and accepting all the limitations.

Helping clients in discovering all the information that is being stored in their unconscious is one of the most important possible technique in the treatment. Further, free association could be utilized to let Hary release each and everything, which he is feeling and thinking, allowing discovering of all the suppressed thoughts by both the therapist, as well as, the client. Further, the free association could also help to visualize the possible transition point when Hary changes from his normal self towards his altered ego’s thinking of being working as the Olympic coach; which entails further investigation related to what he said, as well as, thoughts prior to transitioning towards the alter ego (Pieters & Vermote, 2002).

Further, there is also an option of the projective assessment like Rorschach inkblot tests where Hary describes what he visualized to the presented stimuli. The aim of conducting this exercise is not only answer judgement, but also discovery of all the hidden content and information in Hary's unconscious. This exercise will enable to identify the presence of any kind of patterns related to the thoughts, which may be suppressed, as well as, the various factors which might be responsible in triggering Hary’s actions. As per various studies, assessing the utilization of the assessment procedures by 412 different clinical psychologists, it was found that the Rorschach test was the one of the most frequently used tests and procedure, with about 82% of the respondents and subjects agreeing majorabe success in the investigation they have carried out (Powrie, 2002).

Transference and countertransference: Transference is the process of redirection of the client or patient's feelings from the significant person towards the therapist. While, countertransference can be described as the redirection of the feelings of the therapist towards the client, or in general terms, it the therapist's emotional entanglement existing with the client (Walker, 2002). In this case, I was also involved in the process of transference, as well as, countertransference. As the patient was depressed and socially isolated, I was only left the central social contact at that particular time. It was observed that the patient was developing an emotional attachment with me and wishes to have a friendly relation. However, as per ethical consideration, the relationship between the patient and the therapist should only be limited to professional level (Brodie, 2002). Moreover, there was involvement in the countertransference process, which was to be dealt with extreme care and truth to avoid any kind of harmful outcomes on the patient.   

Strengths and weaknesses of the approach: Freud’s psychoanalytic approach’s strength is based on the fact that Freud’s approach looked and visualized at the various aspects related to the human conditioning, which is then summarized to the practical framework. In Hary's case, Freud’s framework explored all the childhood memories, as well as, Hary’s unconscious thoughts and experiences. However, the weakness related to this framework is that his theory relies too heavily and prominently on the various psychosexual stages. But can it be evidenced and proven that all the experiences happening in Hary’s life is solely the result of all the  psychosexual stages of his as a child? In Hary’s it can be questioned that is all his current problems are really linked to the phallic stage of Hary of not forming a healthy relationship with his father. 

Conclusion

In the summary, we can conclude that Hary's problems have transpired him into the state resulting Hary to stay isolated, as well as, depressed; and finally causing Hary to be hospitalized due to the false perspective regarding his own personality. As per Freud’s theory, the problem related to Hary has arisen because of his childhood experience. Further, repressing his feelings, as well as, thoughts and not able to confront them directly, Hary has perpetuated all the issues in his current state. Whilst, Freud's downside of the theory is based on the fact that the current behaviors, feelings, attitudes, as well as, thoughts in Hary’s case are not clearly visualized in how they have been linked to Hary’s psychosexual stages. However, this approach is still recommended as Freud is able to address all the thoughts, which initially preceded all the reinforced emotions, as well as, behaviors (Axmacher, Kessler, & Waldhauser, 2014).  

References

Andersson, S. (2002). What shapes GPs' work with depressed patients? A qualitative interview study.Family Practice, 19(6), 623-631.

Axmacher, N., Kessler, H., & Waldhauser, G. (2014). Editorial on psychoanalytical neuroscience: exploring psychoanalytic concepts with neuroscientific methods. Frontiers In Human Neuroscience, 8.

Brodie, R. (2002). The Challenge to include Relational Concepts. Marketing Theory, 2(4), 339-343.

Finset, A., Graugaard, P., & Holgersen, K. (2006). Salivary cortisol response after a medical interview: The impact of physician communication behaviour, depressed affect and alexithymia. Patient Education And Counseling, 60(2), 115-124.

FRIEDMAN, L. (2009). FREUD'S TECHNIQUE: MORE FROM EXPERIENCE THAN THEORY.The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, LXXVIII(3), 913-924.

Honneth, A. (2006). The Work of Negativity: A Psychoanalytical Revision of the Theory of Recognition. Crit. Horiz., 7(1), 101-111.

KESKIN, G. & ÇAM, O. (2010). Adolescents' strengths and difficulties: approach to attachment styles.Journal Of Psychiatric And Mental Health Nursing, 17(5), 433-441.

Mechoulan, E. & Schey, T. (2013). Ritual Remembrance: Freud's Primal Theory of Collective Memory.Substance, 42(1), 102-119.

Pieters, G. & Vermote, R. (2002). In-patient treatment of borderline personality disorder: convergences and divergences between a psychoanalytical and a cognitive-behavioral approach. Acta Neuropsychiatrica, 14(2), 81-84.

Powrie, P. (2002). Diva : A new psychoanalytical approach. Studies In French Cinema, 2(1), 41-49.

Quinodoz, J. (2010). How translations of Freud’s writings have influenced French psychoanalytic thinking1. The International Journal Of Psychoanalysis, 91(4), 695-716.

Shin, C. (2007). The Transcendental Dimension of Education : Relation between Theory and Practice.Jme, 18(2), 31.

Snow, G. (2013). A psychoanalytical approach to visual artists. Psychodynamic Practice, 19(4), 438-440.

Supplemental Material for The Relation Between Trauma Exposure and Prosocial Behavior. (2012).Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, And Policy.

Tomic, Z. (2009). The concept of masculinity in Freud's theory of culture. Theoria, 52(1), 77-86.

Walker, B. (2002). Countertransference: A clinical concept, a research tool. Archives Of Psychiatric Nursing, 16(5), 199-200.