Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory: A Comprehensive Overview
Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Introduction to Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a philosophical theory and therapeutic method that studies human nature. Its search method involves studying patient behavior to understand the etiology (cause) of psychological distress. The curative method aims to eliminate the cause to cure the disease.
Freud’s Key Concepts
Sigmund Freud, influenced by Charcot and Breuer, posited that the human being is composed of body and mind. He identified three key components
Read MoreMadness or Dementia in Chilean Criminal Law
Development in Chile
Glen believed that modern psychiatry misapplied the terms “madness” and “insanity.” He preferred the term “alienated” to designate individuals suffering from a mental disorder affecting criminal responsibility.
Novoa stated that the terms “crazy” or “insane” referred to individuals with severe, permanent mental impairment. He aimed to include all individuals with a pathological impairment of mind, lacking the psychic ability to understand legal duty and adjust their behavior accordingly.
Read MoreUnderstanding Abnormal Psychology & Mental Disorders
Psychopathology Notes
Criteria for Abnormal Behavior
Distress
How do we know it when we see it?
- Discomfort
- Behavior
- Speech pattern
Abnormal behavior refers to patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that are atypical, distressing, dysfunctional, and sometimes dangerous.
Impairment
- In major life functions: struggle at work or at school, in relationships
- AKA “psychological disability”
Cultural “Inappropriateness”
- Or behaviors that are “culturally unexpected”?
Diagnosing Syndromes, Not Symptoms
- The difference
Introduction to Psychology: Key Concepts and Biological Foundations
Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology
Early Influences
Father of Psychology: Wilhelm Wundt (1879, Germany)
Student of Wundt: Edward Titchener, Structuralism
Father of American Psychology: William James, Functionalism
7 Major Perspectives in Modern Psychology
- Psychoanalytic: Unconscious processes, unresolved conflicts, past experiences (Sigmund Freud)
- Behavioral: Objective, observable, environmental influences on overt behavior (John B. Watson, 1913)
- Humanistic: Free will, self-actualization, growth-seeking,
Qualitative Research Methods: A Guide
Demographic Questions
Record age, gender, and ethnicity/race without asking directly. Note participant status (e.g., student, faculty, advisor). Ask about their major (current or past). Depending on the interview’s purpose, other demographic or locational information may be relevant.
Essential Questions
These questions are asked to every participant. Maintain a general order but allow flexibility during the interview. Use follow-up questions to ensure clarity and understanding. Include additional
Read MoreCriminological Theories: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Applications
Criminological Theories: Strengths & Weaknesses
Biological Theories
Strengths
- Account for gender differences in offending
- Account for serious violent offenders
- Account for persistent offenders
Weaknesses
- Assumes certain social groups are biologically flawed
- Conceptualizes crime as a “fixed” natural concept
- Focuses on certain types of offenders
- 90% of young men report engaging in crime at some point in their life
- If crime is biologically linked, what about the process of desistence?
- Much of this research