Introduction
Psychoanalysts specialize in the diagnosis and provision of psychotherapy to patients with mental disorders. Their main goal is to reduce cases of neurosis among human beings. Freud notes that the main aim of psychoanalysis is to enable one to effectively take part in tasks of life.
Freud mentions work and love as the main life tasks in which one requires a sound mind to take part. In this paper, the writer will describe the general process of orthodox Freudian analysis and point out its therapeutic goals. The paper also assesses how resistance and transference affect the therapy process. The writer also gives speculation of how the orthodox Freudian process can be applied successfully to treat the Hong Kong population.
The Process of Orthodox Freudian
The first approach to Orthodox Freudian is to develop a rationale for the patient’s development system. In the rationale, the therapist sets out a measuring tool that effectively captures the patient’s behavior in the interview with the therapist. By interacting with the patient, the therapists should be able to make interpretations of the patient’s internal issues. Wallace (1993, p.56) points out that it’s important to analyze the patient’s early childhood experience to establish if the current problems have any links to childhood experiences. Frustrations and bad life experiences in the early childhood stages impact negatively on one’s ego by their early life can be analyzed and healed through change and adjustment.
Psychoanalysts aim at helping patients develop a rational approach to their actions, be responsible and achieve high levels of emotional freedom. To achieve his or her objectives with the patient, there must be a well-defined procedure that spells out a clear procedure and goals of the process at the end (Wallace, 1993, p.68). The process has to recognize the aims and goals of psychotherapy as a complex form of social collaboration in which the therapist plays an important role.
A therapeutic process should always build on operations that apply to the techniques of psychotherapy. As much as possible, the therapy process must embrace a wide variety of psychotherapy techniques to effectively help patients who need close attention. Besides, psychoanalysts also pay attention to the patient’s preverbal periods. The preverbal period according to Freud is when important developmental milestones in one’s life occur. The essence of analyzing the patient’s preverbal experience is to find out if such experiences as frustrations and deprivations may have had a lasting negative impact on the patient’s life. Free association is one of the approaches used by psychoanalysts in classical analysis (Wallace, 1993, p.77). Engaging a patient in a free association session provides an analyst an opportunity to find out issues lying in the patient’s mind.
The orthodox Freudian analysis also examines the notion of transference in the patients. The orthodox Freudian analysis views transference as a complex that should be left to develop naturally rather than use to make untimely interpretations. The emphasis in the extra transference matters can be drawn from dreams analysis; ones present life relations with other people and defenses. Wachtel (1982, p. 57) notes that “a full therapeutic analysis embraces three different types of relationships; the transference, therapeutic and real relationship.” The analyst must keep an ordinary human relationship with his or her patient to exactly extract the patient’s internal issues.
More focus in the orthodox Freudian analysis is directed on the patient’s past unconscious sources that are believed to contribute the one’s personality development. Wachtel (1982, p. 79) further suggests therapeutic analysis should focus on the remnants of the past which presently exist in the patient’s conscious mind. The orthodox Freudian analysis is based on the view the analyst’s perceptual and emotional reactions help the patient. The process also embraces both the “external reality and the internal psychic reality.” The two aspects are believed to bear some sort of interplay in a patient’s life and should thus be analyzed collectively.
Wachtel (1982, p. 88) also highlights the need for ordinary conversations in analysis; ordinary conversation according to Freud provides room for “explanations, clarifications and open discussions on real issues.” More emphasis in the orthodox Freudian analysis is placed on internal psychic reality as opposed to external truth. The analyst is more concerned throughout the analysis period with what the patient shows in resistance and transference. The patient’s external characteristics express the internal life and can be traced from events and experiences of the patient’s past. It is assumed that both social instances and cultural settings effectively affect one’s interaction with members of society. “The anal eroticism and death instincts” are particularly pointed out as the main aspects responsible for one’s internal life patterns (Strupp, 1967, p. 66). It is, therefore, possible according to the orthodox Freudian assertion to develop analogies from the cultural and social experiences of a victim to their current internal life.
The Therapeutic Goals of Orthodox Freudian
Freud is well-known for developing theories explaining the nature of the “unconscious mind as well as the defense mechanism for suppression.” Further, he also explored ways of applying the knowledge and skills of psychoanalysis in clinical psychotherapy. In the process, the analyst engages the patient in free discussion trying to fix what lies in the mind of the patient from the patient’s talk (Strupp, 1967, p. 98). It is assumed that during free association sessions, a patient freely reveals what lies in the unconscious mind that might hurt their mental health. Besides, aspects like the slip of the tongue can also reveal what lies in the unconscious mind of the patient. Such issues and pieces of information can be pinned together by an analyst to find out their patient’s problem and be able to craft a solution for them after establishing what ails their patients.
Dream analysis according to Freud is another way to establish what lies in the patient’s unconscious mind. It is believed by the orthodox Freudian that dreaming is a way by which what lies in the unconscious mind finds its way into the conscious mind. In this respect, dreams provide an analyst can reliably use dream analysis to reliably reach the patient’s subconscious mind (Langford, 1986, p.94). Dangerous issues that lie in the patient’s unconscious mind can be established through dream analysis. This approach has often been criticized as not suitable in establishing what exactly lies in the unconscious mind. Critics of dream analysis argue that dreams only represent an individual’s daily encounters and experience that has nothing to do with the brain content. Whichever side one beliefs, clearly thoughts emanating from the mind can either be made up of experiences or issues constantly thought about by the individual (Langford, 1986, p.104). This then makes dream analysis a valid approach to establishing one’s mental issues and not just an account of one’s daily experiences.
By the process of transference, a patient is meant to reflect on issues hidden in the unconscious mind and develop strategies of how to develop an escape strategy. This is especially meant to help the patient deal with childhood issues. Such includes; the frustrations, emotional pressure, and good things enjoyed by the patient during childhood. Traces of such issues especially childhood frustrations can be identified in the patient’s behavior and can be damaging to one’s mental health. Patients who may have been sexually abused in childhood for example grow up with total hatred and fear of the like of people who committed the atrocious act to them. Sexual abuse experienced in childhood according to Ausubel (1952, p.69) kept in the victim’s unconscious mind. Such individuals are more often viewed to reproduce sexual abuse scenes that are deeply kept in their subconscious minds.
The main goal of a psychoanalyst is to help a patient reach self-healing by listening to them. All efforts are directed towards helping a patient recognize the life and pull out from the state of helplessness or hopelessness. This helps the patient restore to their original state of life through a professional rehabilitation process.
Resistance and Transference
According to Craib (2001, p.46), “the notion of transference was developed by Freud during his psychotherapy research.” Transference describes the relationship a patient presents between their current status and immature experiences. Other researchers view misdeed as a cordial relationship a patient develops with the therapist. This cordial relationship is then seen as an impediment to relieving patients’ cross-over to the normal mental status. Transference, much as seen as a way to reduce resistance, is largely “presented in the patient as a resistance” (Craib, 2001, p. 65). The Orthodox Freudian view transference as causing the patient’s healing process to be emotional.
There is a popular belief that transference should form a platform for positive change in the patient healing process. Freudian view of this however differs in the sense the aspect can also interfere with the process of analysis. This is especially clear in dream analysis. Craib (2001, p. 68) notes the “actual object of analysis is replaced or linked to a related object. The replacement or linking of objects tends to divert attention from the actual object to a representation of it. Transference is often seen as an independent entity from the therapist, especially with their gender. Patients regard the therapist as a growing source of inspiration in which the patient’s need reduces with time. This means that transference wears out with time as the patient comes to terms with the reality of the matters.
The classical psychoanalysts used free association as a means to get what is in the patient’s mind and decode it to establish the problem. Once the problem is fixed, the patient is then helped through a healing process. Some patients exhibit difficulties adjusting to normal situations. The difficulty to adjust to normality is described by the orthodox Freudian analysts as resistance. When the resistance reduces, the patients tend to be emerging from repression and displays pieces of information that can be drawn together to establish the patient’s problem. It, therefore, implied the defense issues that result in some pain are transferred through one historical milestone (Birnbach, 1961, p.78).
Using the Orthodox Freudian to Treat the Hong Kong Population
The Hong Kong population is culturally set in in primitive practices such as noting strong beliefs in Fengshui, and the use of primitive ways to dispel evil spirits. They have strong beliefs in primitive cultural practices. Such beliefs do interfere with the people’s way of operations in life (Birnbach, 1961, p.87). The Hong Kong people for example fear naming the four-floor in-story buildings because they “believe the fourth floor translates to death.” Such a belief is primitive as elsewhere no one has ever died for naming the fourth floor.
The cultural and social problems affect the mental status of individuals and the way they interact with others. The Orthodox Freudian theory can be suitably applied to heal such comrades from the York of such cultural beliefs. Hong Kong regards its women as weak vessels. The women in this regard have grown to notice themselves so. For the women, this is a mental problem that can be traced to cultural roots and can be healed through reconditioning (Birnbach, 1961, p.95).
Research suggests there is a high prevalence of suicide cases among the elderly population in Hong Kong. Suicide cases usually arise from depression. Birnbach (1961, p.78) shows that as high as 50% of the elderly population in Hong Kong commit suicide. This comparatively is the highest number of such cases in the world. Most of the cases that commit suicide it has been established have had a history of psychiatric problems. The main problem has been most of those suffering from mental disorders instead of seeking the support of psychiatrists, go to physicians. They regard mental health as physical health and seek help from inappropriate professionals.
Such cases can be helped to adjust to the normal mental status through orthodox Freudian analysis and therapy. By analyzing their talks and dreams, an analyst can establish what sits in the mind of such a patient and encourage them to adjust normally. It is important to note that those suffering from mental disorders should be encouraged to seek support from suitable professionals rather than seek support from physicians instead of psychiatrists (Ausubel, 1952, p.53). The government should implement a consistent screening program that can help detect and help individuals with mental disorders.
Those detected in their early stages can be easily helped to adjust fast than those detected in their advanced stages. By analyzing the dreams of an individual, it is possible to detect issues that lie deep in the mind of a patient. Most of the suicide victims generally bear such thoughts for a period leading to depression and eventually suicide. Some even dream of committing suicide as a way to end the suffering they undergo in life. If engaged in a free association session, such individuals will often mention the need to commit suicide to be relieved from suffering. When such cases are identified, they can be helped to adjust and realize the reality of life through the orthodox Freudian analysis (Ausubel, 1952, p.64).
The youth have and especially adolescents have been established as a vulnerable group to mental problems resulting from external influences from drug abuse. There is a need for a plan of intervention to this problem to be addressed from early stages before the problem becomes a menace. The intervention program for the youths should be launched right from the school level. Schools should have a screening program meant to identify and rehabilitate the youths with mental disorders. This can be arrived at or implemented easily through free association and dream analysis according to the orthodox Freudian analysis.
In analyzing free association, an analyst can also get information through the slip of the tongue. Often, what lies in the unconscious mind can be revealed to the conscious mind through the slip of the tongue. Such issues are then spoken out by a victim unintentionally or by mistake (Ausubel, 1952, p.68). An analyst can then pick out pieces of information and establish the content of the unconscious mind of the patient from the notion of the slip of the tongue.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this paper has explained the general process of the orthodox Freudian analysis as well as the therapeutic goals of the theory. The classic theory of psychoanalytic therapy is based on dream analysis and free association as a way of extracting information about the patient’s mental problems. Through free association, with the patients, an analyst can extract pieces of information about what affects the patient’s mental health. Free association between the patient and an analyst makes a patient develop confidence in the analyst and confide his or her problems in the therapist.
Psychotic problems often result from depression and childhood problems. Frustrations during early childhood development as pointed out in the paper remain kept in an individual’s mind and whenever they are reactivated, the victim projects some reactions to counter them. The suggested speculation on how the Orthodox Freudian analysis can be used as a treatment plan to the Hong Kong population. It was established the major mental problems ailing the Hong Kong population are related to their cultural practices. There is also the issue of depression that leads to high levels of suicide, especially among the elderly population. Depression is a mental health problem that can be detected through free association and dream analysis and healed by a suitable psychotherapy program.
Reference List
Ausubel, D. P. (1952). Ego Development and the Personality Disorders: A Developmental Approach to Psychopathology. New York: Grune & Stratton.
Birnbach, M. (1961). Neo-Freudian Social Philosophy. California Stanford University Press.
Craib, I. (2001). Psychoanalysis: a Critical Introduction. MA: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
Langford, P. E. (1986). Modern Philosophies of Human Nature: Their Emergence from Christian Thought. Berlin: Springer.
Strupp, H. H. (1967). An Introduction to Freud and Modern Psychoanalysis. New York: Barron’s Educational Series.
Wachtel, P. L. (1982). Resistance, Psychodynamic and Behavioral Approaches. New York: Plenum Press.
Wallace, W. A. (1993). Theories of Personality. California: Allyn and Bacon, 1993.