Question

2. In what way is the notion of the unconscious one of Freud’s most significant discoveries? What are the implications of this concept for clinical practice?5. How is anxiety explained from a psychoanalytic view? Identify the three types of anxiety.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Freud’s theory of the mind divides the mind into the conscious and the unconscious mind.

The conscious mind is represented by “ego.” The unconscious mind is further divided into two sections which are, the “id” or instincts and the “superego” or conscious.

This Freudian theory helps psychologists decipher both simple and complex issues of the mind. There are times when data in regards to a patient can be overwhelming to sort out and solve. In such situations, it is always prudent to first categorise the behaviour and then analyse, medicate and perhaps even solve.

Psychologists these days categorise thoughts, words and even actions as a manifestation of the conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious mind of an individual. For instance, a binge eater consciously eats more than needed in order to placate a heart-break. However, a sleepwalker does not know what he/she is doing and hence is a manifestation of the unconscious mind.

Even the work of other psychologists can have the essence of Freud’s mind theory. Let us assume Maslow’s needs hierarchy pyramid. The base of the pyramid is the physiological needs. The needs like food, clothing and shelter are consciously required by all human beings. However, as one progresses upward in the pyramid, the needs tend to get sub-conscious and perhaps even unconscious. Self-actualisation, which is at the top of the pyramid, closely resembles the Freudian “Superego.”

In order to deal with even the most complex of psychological theories, it is best to establish the basics. These basics involve a sharp understanding of the conscious and unconscious mind. The Freudian theory of the mind is the basics that entail any psychological case study.

Anxiety disorder is especially seen in individuals who have an unwarranted worry about specific situations. This might include feelings of worry about the future, anguish while dealing with the present situation and fixation on negative thoughts that are influenced by the focus on issues of the past.

Differentiation: The triggers (causes) are the main source of difference in the types of disorders.

Generalised anxiety disorder: Triggered by worry and anxious behaviour when contemplating future events and characterised by fear about future events.

Panic disorder: Triggered by worry and anxious behaviour when a situation may not be within the parameters of what is planned and or familiar.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Triggered by unreasonable obsessions and eventually leading to compulsive behaviours and anxiety.

The Freudian theory of psychoanalysis would help us understand the root of all of these problems as being stored somewhere in the subconscious or unconscious mind. If these nudges were to be found and addressed, it would be simpler to solve problems of anxiety. For instance, John is too scared of aeroplanes and refuses to travel in one as it makes him anxious. However, upon deep psychoanalysis, it was found that John was afraid after he saw a film about a plane crash when he was 5 years old. This fear was embedded in his subconscious mind and resulted in the fear during adulthood.