Notes

• Anna Freud identified


  Defence Mechanisms
• Defence Mechanisms

  • Repression
  • Denial
  • Projection
  • Displacement
  • Regression
  • Sublimation
• Repression


  Unconscious blocking of unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and memories
• Anna Freud believed that repression


  Was one of the most basic defense mechanisms and served as the foundation for many others
• Denial


  Refusal to accept reality or acknowledge the existence of a problem or issue
• Anna Freud believed that denial


  Can be an effective short-term coping mechanism but if used excessively, it can lead to serious problems
• Projection


  Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to someone else
• Anna Freud believed that projection


  Could be a way of avoiding responsibility for one's actions or avoiding uncomfortable truths about oneself
• Displacement


  Redirecting one's emotions, usually anger or frustration, from the original source to a less threatening target
• Anna Freud believed that displacement


  Could be a way of avoiding confrontations or expressing emotions in socially acceptable ways
• Regression

  Reverting to an earlier stage of development, usually in response to stress or anxiety
• Anna Freud believed that regression


  Could be a way of coping with overwhelming emotions, but if used excessively, it could lead to emotional immaturity and dependency
• Sublimation


  Channeling unacceptable impulses or emotions into socially acceptable activities or behaviors
• Anna Freud believed that sublimation


  Could be a healthy way of dealing with difficult emotions and could lead to personal growth and creative expression
• Ego


  The part of the psyche that mediates between the conscious and unconscious mind, responsible for balancing the desires of the id with the demands of reality and the superego
• Ego Defense Mechanisms


  Used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety and maintain psychological stability
• Ego Defense Mechanisms

  • Repression
  • Denial
  • Projection
  • Displacement
  • Sublimation
• Repression


  Pushing unwanted thoughts or feelings into the unconscious mind
• Denial


  Refusing to acknowledge the reality of a situation
• Projection


  Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings onto others
• Displacement


  Redirecting emotions from the original source to a less threatening target
• Defense mechanisms

  1. Repression

  2. Denial

  3. Projection

  4. Displacement

  5. Sublimation
• Displacement


  Redirecting emotions from their original source to a less threatening target
• Sublimation


  Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors
• Development of the Ego

  Anna Freud believed that the ego develops throughout childhood and adolescence, with stages including oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital stages
• During each stage of ego development, children face different challenges and conflicts that shape the development of their ego
• Failure to successfully navigate the challenges in each stage can lead to fixation or regression in the development of the ego
• Ego and Mental Health

  Anna Freud believed that a healthy ego was essential for mental health and well-being, allowing individuals to adapt to changes, cope with stress, and form healthy relationships
• When the ego is weak or underdeveloped, individuals may struggle with emotional instability, impulsivity, and difficulty forming meaningful connections with others
• In severe cases, a weakened ego can lead to personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder
• Ego and Psychotherapy

  Anna Freud believed that psychotherapy could help individuals strengthen and develop their ego, focusing on understanding and strengthening the ego through therapy
• Ego psychology emphasizes the importance of building a strong therapeutic relationship between the therapist and client, exploring past experiences and relationships to identify areas where the ego may be underdeveloped or struggling
• Anna Freud's work on the ego has had a significant impact on the field of psychology, helping us better understand the role of the ego in human behavior and development
• By exploring the ways in which the ego mediates between the conscious and unconscious mind, Anna Freud has provided valuable insights into how we can better manage our emotions and behaviors, build stronger relationships with others, and achieve greater mental health and well-being
• Heinz Hartmann: 'Riya & Keya'
• Heinz Hartmann was a physician and psychoanalyst
• He was analyzed by Freud and became a key member of his generation of Freud's followers at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society
• Hartmann read a paper on ego psychology to the Vienna Society in 1937, which later developed into a book - "Ego Psychology & the Problem of Adaptation"
• Hartmann was considered a major clinical analyst, teacher, theoretician, and metapsychologist, building on and extending Freud's ideas and findings
• Assumptions of Heinz Hartmann

  • Three-Part Structural Model
  • Primary Focus on the Ego
  • Adaptation and Reality Testing
  • Autonomous Ego Functions
  • Developmental Perspective
  • Adaptive Mechanisms
  • Hierarchical Structure of Motivation
  • Interpersonal Relations