Psicologia

Theories of Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is theoretically diverse because most analysts use some selection of the following psychoanalytic models of the mind.

The topographical mode!

The topographical model of the mind was intended to help analysts understand how patients

Repress wishes, fantasies, and thoughts. In the topographical modal, the mind is divided into

Conscious, preconscious, and unconscious systems. The conscious system includes all that we are subjectively aware of in our minds. The preconscious includes material that we are capable of becoming aware of, but not currently. The unconscious system includes material that we have defensively removes from cur awareness by means of repression and other defense mechanisms. In clinical work, analysts try to move unconscious material to the preconscious and them to the conscious mind, to increase the patient´s self-awareness.

The structural model

Perhaps the most famous psychoanalytic model of the mind, the structural model divides the mind into the id, ego, and superego. The id is the source of our motivation, and includes sexual and aggressive drivers. The superego includes our moral code and ideals. The ego is made up of a group of mechanisms (reality-testing, judgment, impulse control, etc.) that help us deal with the real world. Analysts who use the structural model commonly focus on helping patients handle conflicts that occur between these three mental agencies. Many also use the structural model for clinical diagnosis. A structural-model diagnosis entails an assessment of the level of functioning of the patient’s id, ego, and superego. And the specific areas of weakness and strength in each. For example, psychoanalysts usually diagnose a patient as psychotic if his or her ego suffers a severe impairment in reality-testing.

The economic model

The economic model of the mind is rarely used today, but is of historical importance. In the economic model, the mind is pictured as an energy system. Mental energy or “libido” may be distributed in a variety of ways throughout the system. The vast majority of analysts have abandoned the economic model because it is vague and relies heavily on nineteenth century ideas about hydraulics. Still, a small number of philosophically minded analysts retain tho economic model because the believe that its vagueness is helpful in alluding to features of mental life that may lie beyond scientific- understanding.

The conflict model

The conflict model of the mind is designed to help analysts understand specific mental conflicts. This model of the mind divides the mind into basic units called compromise formations. A compromise formation

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