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The Different Versions of Psychoanalysis Essay

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Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It focuses on how humans interact and function. It also deals with how to treat those who appear to be dysfunctional, either in their thoughts, behaviors, or emotions (Huffman, 2012, p.532). In Chapter 14 of “Psychology in Action”, we discussed psychological disorders and abnormal behaviors. Chapter 15 covers therapy. Therapy is a remedial attempt to “cure” emotional, mental, or physical health problems (“Therapy- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia”). When therapists deal with patients with psychological problems and mental disorders, they use psychotherapy. Psychotherapy involves using specific techniques to improve the psychological functioning of the patient. In …show more content…

The second method of psychoanalysis is dream analysis. In dream analysis, the therapist interprets the dream of the patient, explaining the manifest content and latent content. The manifest content is the obvious verbal description. The latent content is the true, underlying meaning (“Dream Analysis”).
The third method of psychoanalysis is analysis of resistance. In therapy, patients often show resistance, or unwillingness, to reveal their true feelings, thoughts, and motives. Instead they resist by suddenly “forgetting” what they were saying, arriving late, not talking at all, or attempting to change the subject. They resist because they fear that showing their vulnerable side may overwhelm them (“About Psychology-Resistance”).
Another method of psychoanalysis is analysis of transference. In this method, patients transfer their unresolved emotions onto their therapist. This method is an essential element to psychoanalysis because it happens automatically and unconsciously (“Transference- Psychotherapy Treatment and Psychotherapist Information”). In this stage, the patient begins to open up more, revealing the true issues that they face. The final stage of psychoanalysis is interpretation. In this stage, the therapist uses their knowledge from all of the previous methods to explain the underlying meanings to the patient. Freud considered psychoanalysis “an art of interpretation”, because

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