Freudian Psychoanalytic Concepts- Free Association and Repression

Freudian Psychoanalytic Concepts- Free Association and Repression

Sigmund Freud is arguably the greatest psychoanalytic theorist of all time. The Freudian psychoanalysis approach seeks to treat mental issues by focusing on the interactions between the conscious and the unconscious self to identify repressed emotions and experiences (Yakeley, 2018). Repression in psychology is viewed as a basic defense mechanism against previous traumatic experiences. On the other, the concept of free association seeks to find a way through the repression to get to the repressed emotions and anxiety that lead to mental issues (Henley, 2019).

As an individual interested in a career in mental health and wellness, Freudian psychoanalytic concepts remain relevant in the diagnosis of mental disorders and associated physical and behavioral issues. Sigmund Freud was of the idea that for a psychoanalyst to be qualified, they also need to be psychoanalyzed by another psychoanalyst on the basis of free association (Henley, 2019). Freud lacked the option to apply free association to himself and, therefore, developed the idea of self-analysis based on one’s dreams. In his theory of personality, among the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious.

Dreams are viewed as an expression or disguise of a wish. They are condensed ideas of an individual’s real-life elements, such as traumatic experiences in their waking life (Henley, 2019). Freud’s dream analysis proved to be a way to tap into the unconscious mind and identify repressed ideas. Freud was able to understand how traumatic experiences get repressed. He was able to psychologically correlate emotions such as jealousy and hate to the repressed experiences. Therefore, Freud’s dream analysis and psychoanalytic concept of free association to determine the nature of repressed emotions and experiences are relevant to modern mental health practice.

 References

Bollas, C. (2022). What is theory? In Psychoanalytic Credos (pp. 41-50). Routledge.

Henley, T. (2019). Hergenhahn’s An Introduction to the History of Psychology (8th ed.). Cengage Learning, Inc.

Yakeley, J. (2018). Psychoanalysis in modern mental health practice. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(5), 443-450.

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Freudian Psychoanalytic Concepts- Free Association and Repression

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textbook: Henley, Tracy. Hergenhahn’s An Introduction to the History of Psychology. Available from: Purdue University Global Bookshelf, (8th Edition). Cengage Learning US, 2018.