Psychology

I thought of defense mechanisms that are postulated by Freud when I first came across the Object Relations section of Psychoanalysis chapter in text book. Defense mechanism functions to protect the individual from experiencing excessive anxiety due to unconscious urges and desires. Anxiety is the inability of the ego to control the tensions from the environment The content behind the fence may be quite difficult for the patient to tolerate as it may be part of a painful experience. (Hall, Gardner,  Campbell, 1998)

Object relations theory proposes that human emotional life and relationships center around the unconscious images we hold of out earliest and most intense relationships.  In most cases an individual would seek to experience the same pattern of relationship with an identical object in the past. As proposed by Mahler, on the first few months of life, the infant would identify with an object or figure that satisfies hisher basic needs. This development is characterized by four stages which predominantly tackles on the childs progress from identity fusion into separation. A healthy development in these stages would reflect on the later relationships with significant figures in ones life.  Fixation with a certain stage would occur if the object has neglected or has created vague cues in the childs leap towards the next stage. Pathology would occur later in life as manifestation of these inconsistencies and neglect. In this case, an adult would seek unhealthy relationships with figures that resemble the objects in hisher past. Seemingly the individual unconsciously seek out others who match their internalized image of the individual who are part of their painful experience. It is same way of reworking patterns of past relationship to unknowingly address the unresolved issues along with each stage (Corey, 2009).  Defense mechanism and the Object relation reflect the   intolerable content of some past memory. Ifeel they can both accomplish the same thing, and that is for the individual to realize how they are dealing with their painful memories. Both serve as mediums to explore the unconscious urges and desires. Defense mechanism and object relation manifest unconsciously to reflect past issues.

How is object relation different from transference The answer would further confirm refute the idea that defense mechanism and objet-relation are in any way similar to one another. Define by Corey (2009), transference is the unconscious shifting of feelings from significant figures into the past to the counselor. In psychoanalysis transference is encourage to get a glimpse into the individuals past patterns of relationship.

2. How does existential therapy address the concept of unconscious motivations since it plays an integral role in ones life   The purpose of existentialism is to regain contact with the experience of being alive and aware. It is a philosophical approach that stresses the individuals control over hisher life. Analysis begins with the concrete and specific experiences of a human being exist at a particular moment in time and space. According to Binswanger, there are three parts of experience Umwelt, Mitwelt, and Eigenwelt. Umwelt refers to biological experiences that include sensations people feel such as pleasure, pain, or heat. Mitwelt is social experience. This is emotions and thoughts toward other people. Eigenwelt is inner psychological experience. Simply, this is ones phenomenological experience.  However, besides experience with awareness, I thought there are lots of experiences that people are not aware of. These experiences may play an important role in ones life.
 
As Freuds theory, people are predominated by  unconscious motivations. Most important motivating factors in our lives occur unconsciously. Simply the role of unconscious materials cannot be neglected altogether. This means to me that as a therapist, focusing on and keeping conscious and unconscious realms are critical in gauging the persons source of current concerns and issues.I found existential psychodynamics in the text book and this is based on the basic conflict of those two innate and awareness values of people. For example, in case of death, the core inner conflict is between awareness of inevitable death and the simultaneous wish to live forever (Hall, Gardner,  Campbell, 1998).

How would an existentialist explain this conflict

3. How can we help individuals in redressing these one-sided propositions How do people grow  These questions are a result of the failure for individuals to acknowledge their freedoms. The failure to acknowledge freedom leads to a dysfunctional identification with destiny.  It is seen as a suppression to discipline and prioritize ones life. It is the inability to take responsibility in ones actions. Rollo May answers the above question by emphasizing struggle, as he states that it is through struggle that freedom and destiny may be genuinely apprehended or creatively transformed (Corey, 2009). Although May answers these questions by emphasizing struggle, what if the individual overlooks their struggles in life and automatically looks into their destiny and freedom.  In other words, if someone overlooks their limitations at what point do they realize this Because the polarities of freedom and destiny are essential to existential psychotherapy, this attitude of therapy puts me at confusion because if one remains in their inauthentic mode, how long will it take them to reach authenticity and for them to acknowledge these limitations   I think that individuals who remain in the inauthentic mode will at some point reach authenticity, and if and when they do does it imply that growth has occurred and that they can now realize their limitations.