Outline and Evaluate the Use of Psychoanalysis to Treat Abnormality.

400 Words2 Pages
Outline and evaluate the use of psychoanalysis to treat abnormality. Psychoanalysis covers treatment that addresses psychological issues, rather than biological factors related with mental disorders. The belief is that someone can look and understand the past of a patient and the activities in the unconscious levels of their psyche. Therefore they are able to deal with present situations happening in their lives. There are three methods to the process psychoanalysis, one being dream analysis – this means that according to psychodynamic theory, the unconscious us revealed in dreams. Freud was persuaded that repressed memories and impulses were revealed in dream in a symbolic form. However this type of treatment can be very expensive and time consuming, especially compared to behavioural treatment. Hence, it is mostly available to those who can afford to pay for themselves. Some new development in psychoanalysis shows that shorter psychodynamic therapies provide quicker improvements and becomes more affordable. The second method of psychoanalysis is known as free association. By the use of this method, clients are encouraged to announce any random thoughts in their heads, without editing or censorship. The idea is that uncensored will reveal underlying problems or conflicts, then the analysis is able to interpret the patterns of association, by their words and behaviour - uprooting any underlying thoughts in the client. On the other hand, it may not always be easy to evaluate psychoanalysis scientifically, due the fact that some concepts, for instance insight and repression is difficult to measure. For instance if the client’s behaviour improves, then insight has take place, if not then, it seems that insight has not worked. Moreover, the psychoanalysis has been criticized, for not always having a great deal of effect. For example, figures
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