Introduction
Psychoanalysis is a technique of studying how certain people behave when they are subjected to different prevailing factors. In order for psychoanalysis to be effective, the psychoanalyst needs to ensure that the individual or group people, who are under observation, are not conscious of the factors, which influence their behavior and emotions. Psychoanalytic treatment seeks to explore ways through which some of these unconscious factors influence the patterns of emotion, thought, behavior, and the current relationships (Brill & Bailye, 2009). So as, to ensure that the affected person is able to undergo through treatment successfully, the psychoanalysts assess the entire history of the patient.
In addition, they seek to establish the historical background of these patterns so as to establish the degree of change that has been taking place throughout the years. This kind of thorough analysis facilitates the psychoanalysts to guide the patient on various ways of coping with the changes that are taking place in the present life. Through psychoanalysis, an individual can be able to comprehend their emotions, as well as their behavior (Andrea, 2010). This level of understanding will not only be at an intellectual level but also at an emotional level.
During psychoanalysis one of the ways through which an analyst can study a patient, is by requesting them to lie on a couch or a comfortable bed and talk about whatever crosses her or his mind. This process may take place over a long period of time not less than four weeks. In the course of this period of time, the analysts will be able to record whatever they observe from the patient. In addition, the patient will be able to get in touch with her or his internal experience, which they were not previously conscious (Brill & Bailye, 2009). One of the ways through which patients become conscious of some of the factors that are disturbing them is through talking about whatever crosses their mind. In the course of talking about whatever crosses their mind, they will facilitate the psychoanalyst to determine topics that the patient is facing difficulties talking about through talking. The psychoanalyst will determine the topics, which the patient is experiencing a lot of difficulties talking about by assessing the level of repetition of the topic in the patients conversation. The psychoanalyst will assess the nature of behavior, emotion, and thoughts that individual exhibits when talking about such topics.
In the event that the patient displays a lot of agony, distress, and pain when talking about a certain topic, the psychoanalyst will help the patient to develop more productive methods and techniques of handling their emotions, thoughts, and behavior. In order to ensure the effectiveness of treatment, the psychoanalyst will continuously subject the patient into different factors so as to study how the patient responds to them. The analyst will continue modifying the factors so that the patient can be able to develop and enjoy professional pursuits, intimate relationships, and personal pursuits (Elliott, 2001).
Ego Psychology
In the ancient days, the work of the ego was assumed to be reality testing, judgment, impulse control, defense, affecting tolerance and synthetic functioning. Common believe was that a very healthy ego was able to function on its own. Reality testing, motor coordination and memory need to function without any interference from the emotions of a human being (Thompson, 2003). According to this theory every person is born with an Id. It is this Id that enables children to get their needs met.
This theory is evident whenever one sees a child crying in order for his or her needs to be met. When a child wants something they usually do not care whether the thing is available or not (Canestri, 2006). They do not take into consideration the ability of their care take to be able to access the item that they are demanding. As a result, the child’s Id is the one that is in control and it is the major determinant of the behavior of the child. As a result of this, it is evident that the id does not care much about reality whenever it is influencing the behavior of a person. This also serves to show that the id only cares about its need being met regardless of the prevailing conditions. It is also imperative to note that whenever the id wants something it does not take account of anything else.
The child continues to grow, and when it they attain the age of approximately four years the second part of its personality commences to develop. This second part of its personality is known as the ego. It is important to note that the ego is based on reality and the ego it tasked with the responsibility of addressing the needs of the Id while putting into consideration the needs of other people (Elliott, 2001). The ego appreciates the fact that being selfish or unkind to other people by not taking account of their needs while in pursuit of quenching your own will lead to the hurting of the feelings of the other people. The ego is loosely being regarded as a regulator of the id.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy addresses the dysfunctions in the behavior of a person. It also addresses the dysfunctions in the emotions of a human being. It is important to highlight that the cognitive behavioral therapy takes account of the cognitive behavioral processes of an individual through a series of objective oriented and explicitly methodical processes. This theory perpetuates the belief that our behaviors are mainly a subject to the prevailing emotional conditions within our mind (Holmes, 2005). For instance, a person who thinks about car accidents is most likely to develop a negative attitude towards using a car.
The main objective of the cognitive behavioral therapy is to enable the patient to appreciate the fact that they cannot be able to control the events, as well as the prevailing external conditions. However, this theory helps them to learn that patients can be able to choose the manner through which they interoperate the events that are occurring around them (Lacan, 2004). This is very important for patients to understand because the people that belong to this school of thought believes that the behavior of an individual is also greatly influenced by their perception the things that are happening around them.
The cognitive behavioral therapy has been used to treat people that are suffering from numerous psychological disorders. For example, it can be applied in the treatment of persons ailing from anxiety. The persons that are suffering from anxiety their behavior is usually greatly influenced by fear. As a result, such people may end up overreacting or underperforming depending on the prevailing conditions. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also be employed to treat disorders such as depression. Most of the depressed people normally have a mental that has exaggerated the impact of a given situation. Most people become depressed as a result of falling short of their expected outcome (Moscovici, 2008).
Depression results from unexpected outcomes when an individual receives something less than what was expected even if it is not a material substance it can be emotional. These people normally undergo Psychoanalysis in order for them to put things into perspective. Psychoanalysis is very effective whenever it comes to dealing with such disorders, and this is mainly attributable to the fact that most of this disorders are usually as a result of perception. This means with a change of perception an individual is usually able to change his behavior (Canestri, 2006).
Rational Emotive Behavior therapy
This theory aims at improving the emotional state of human beings as well as their behaviors through solving of problems and disturbances that make an individual to be unhappy and not content with life. This theory perpetuates the opinion that human being word hard to remain alive. It also perpetuates the belief that human beings strive to achieve a certain level of happiness. The rational emotive behavior therapy takes into account that human beings normally adopt irrational mentalities and personal character which make them encounter a lot of challenges as they pursue their goals and objectives (Lacan, 2004).
The presence of these negative and positive emotions is what takes into account the level of happiness that one is able to attain in his life. For instance, one person may have a philosophy that after experiencing any kind of loss they should be able to dust themselves and get back into the race. This kind of philosophy will serve to serve as a shield against the negative thoughts. This is because whenever the individual experiences loss they are normally quick to effect corrective action and not to start moaning about the situation. This enables the individual to remain happy in most of the times, and this is attributable to the fact the individual will always be well motivated, and he does not blame himself or herself whenever something negative happens to them (Glover, 2009). Such an individual normally has a relatively high self-esteem, and he is more positive about life thus he is usually happy about life.
This theory serves to educate people on the importance of rational thinking. Rational thinking is a type of thinking which takes into account the reality of situations and not what is considered being ideal. Rational thinkers normally perceive the events or things that are happening from a very logical point of view. Irrational thinkers are usually unrealistic, and they usually do not take into account the reality in regard to a situation (Wurmser, 1989). These types of thinkers normally perceive things based on the ideal. This means they perceive things, not as they are but instead they perceive them on the basis of what they expected them to be.
In most cases, rational thinkers are usually happier than irrational thinkers. This is mainly due to the fact that rational thinkers are usually able to handle situations as they are. They usually place a lot of judgment on the situation itself and not the person (Thompson, 2003). As a result of this, they are usually capable of taking corrective action faster than irrational thinkers. Irrational thinkers are usually experiencing lower levels of happiness compared to the rational thinkers. They are known of looking for fault in them even whenever the fault is in the situation.
References
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Brill, A. A., & Bailye, L. H. (2009). Psychoanalysis: Its Theories and Practical Application. New York: Lighting Source Incorporated.
Canestri, J. (2006). Psychoanalysis: From Practice to Theory. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Elliott, A. (2001). Psychoanalysis in sociology. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, P.12325-12328.
Glover, N. (2009). Psychoanalytic Aesthetics: An Introduction to the British School. New York: Karnac Books.
Holmes, J. (2005). The role and relevance of psychoanalysis in contemporary psychiatry. Psychiatry, p.1-2.
Lacan, J. (2004). The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psycho-Analysis. New York: The Hogarth Press.
Moscovici, S. (2008). Psychoanalysis: Its Image and Its Public. New York: Polity Press.
Thompson, C. (2003). Psychoanalysis: Evolution and Development. New York: Transaction Publishers.
Wilson, A. (1992). The self-regulating child: Converging evidence from psychoanalysis, infant research, and sociolinguistics. Applied and Preventive Psychology, p.165-175.
Wurmser, L. (1989). Flight from conscience: Experiences with the psychoanalytic treatment of compulsive drug abusers. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, p.169-179.
