Psychosynthesis is a therapeutic approach that derives from psychoanalysis. The theory and practice of Psychosynthesis began with Roberto Assagioli, an Italian psychiatrist, who introduced a spiritual approach to Psychology. In 1910 Assagioli started the creation of his wide perspective and vision of a holistic approach to psychology, which put an emphasis on growth and the spiritual dimension of human experience. Assagioli’s work was pioneering and was years ahead of his time in that he anticipated much later developments in his field. His aim was to create a psychology of the whole person that is humanistic and transpersonal and he developed guidelines to teach transpersonal approaches including expansions of consciousness. Assagioli …show more content…
He was influenced by Carl Jung, who had broken away from Freud’s school of thought due to his discovery of another level to the Unconscious Mind, which Assagioli later termed the Superconscious. He also found that there was an organising centre to the Superconscious which he termed the Self (or Higher or Greater Self, or Soul). Assagioli went beyond his contemporaries to embrace wholeness on all levels. The most important difference between Assagioli and Jung was Assagoli’s insistence that the soul is a reality whilst Jung stated that mystical and spiritual states were purely subjective. The word Psychosynthesis derives from the Greek word Psycho, which means Self, Spirit or Soul, and “Synthesis actually means putting together the parts of something so as to form an integrated whole” (Parfitt, W., 2006, P.15). Psychosynthesis has become known as ‘a Psychology with a Soul’ or perhaps more aptly could be named …show more content…
The Middle Unconscious contains our waking consciousness where we process easily accessible memories and daily activities. In its centre is the conscious self or ‘I’. The circled area is the Field of Consciousness which contains that part of our personality of which we are directly aware; flow of sensations and feelings, thoughts, desires and impulses. The Higher Unconscious or Superconscious, is the upper section of the Egg. It is from this region that we receive our higher feelings, such as compassion, love, aspirations and intuitions. In this realm are the higher psychic functions and spiritual energies. The Field of Unconsciousness is where our everyday awareness resides. (Assagioli, R., 2012, pp.
The psychodynamics theory which was introduced by Freud to understand the human mind and psyche, reached a new level in the continuous analysis from therapists. Psychodynamics originally has been explained as a study of various psychological forces that affect human behavior which is related to early experiences. It specifically discusses the connection between the conscious and subconscious motivations. The theory was further analyzed and developed by Melanie Klein, Carl Jung and Alfred Adler. Based on the theory, the psychodynamic therapy evolved to help patients through psychoanalysis. With time other therapies like individual, group and family therapy evolved to offer treatment by understanding the present day complexities in more detail. The main aim of the therapy is self –awareness through identifying the various influences of many past events in life. The therapies are continuously evolving since it was introduced by Freud to help in solving a variety of psychological disorders within people.
The psychoanalytic therapy was developed by Sigmund Freud. It is considered the foundation or modern day psychiatry, psychology, and counseling and is the gage by which all therapies have been measured. Psychoanalytic therapy consists largely of using methods to bring out unconscious thought that can be worked through. It focuses on childhood experiences that are analyzed though discussions that are reconstructed, and interpreted.
Sigmund Freud is considered to be one of the most studied and respected historical figures in psychology. Freud has had a huge impact on the way we think today. He also is responsible for creation psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud is even known as the “father of psychoanalysis”. Through endless contentious theories such as, the Case of Anna O, the Unconscious Mind, the Psyche, and the most infamous of his theories, the Psychosexual stage, Freud has generated many fans and supporters. His works has earned him a place in the list of psychology legends today.
The unconscious mind can be explained in various ways and can take on various attributes. Carl Jung the author of “The Archetype and the Collective Unconscious,” defines unconsciousness as the first reactions and interactions a person endeavors. Several Physicists believe that the unconscious mind acts separately from our voluntary thinking. Scientist believes that understanding the unconscious mind is key to determining what type of archetype a person may have or develop. Experiments such as, reaction to stimuli, have lead cognitive psychiatrist to determine the strength of the unaware and involuntary mind. In addition, many social physicists have also believed that the unconscious mind is unaware of it actions and that the unconscious part of our brain can sometimes be focused on several signs that our conscious self can’t see.
Alder is the founder of the Individual Psychology Therapy. This theory is developed from Freud’s psychodynamic theory and is considered one of the three major contributors to psychodynamic therapies. The beginning of the 20th century, the Adlerian therapy is a type of psychoanalysis known as the Individual Psychology therapy (IP), broke free from the Freudian school as a result rejecting Freud’s driven view of human nature. Adlerians have a calculated view of human nature. The terms Individual Psychology and Adlerian Psychology are interchangeable throughout this paper. Many other individuals have contributed to the Individual Psychology Theory. Alfred Adler’s development of the Individual Psychology therapy is a theory composed of personality and maladjustments (Watts, 2015). The medical model orientation to
Of the copious number of topics in the world today, nothing captivated Sigmund Freud’s attention like psychology did. Known as the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud laid the foundations for comprehending the inner workings that determine human behavior (1). Through his involvement with the hypnosis, dream analysis, psychosexual stages, and the unconscious as a whole, Freud began a new revolution that faced its own conflict but eventually brought the harvest of new knowledge and clarity to the concept of the mind.
It is important to be clear about the meanings of certain terms that you may come across and throughout the handout you will find footnotes clarifying certain terms. Firstly though, a word about the terms psychoanalysis and psychodynamics. Psychoanalysis refers to both Freud’s original attempt at providing a comprehensive theory of the mind and also to the associated treatment. The term encompasses both Freudian theory and therapy. You will also come across the term psychodynamics. This term is used to denote the approach which began with psychoanalysis but which has now broadened into a much more diverse collection of theories and models developed by other psychologists, all of which nevertheless retain some of the main ideas of Freud’s original theory.
Latorre, M. (2000). A Holistic View of Psychotherapy: Connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 36:2, 67-68.
“Consciousness is defined as everything of which we are aware at any given time - our thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions of the external environment. Physiological researchers have returned to the study of consciousness, in examining physiological rhythms, sleep, and altered states of consciousness (changes in awareness produced by sleep, meditation, hypnosis, and drugs)” (Wood, 2011, 169). There are five levels of consciousness; Conscious (sensing, perceiving, and choosing), Preconscious (memories that we can access), Unconscious ( memories that we can not access), Non-conscious ( bodily functions without sensation), and Subconscious ( “inner child,” self image formed in early childhood).
Sigmund Freud created strong theories in science and medicine that are still studied today. Freud was a neurologist who proposed many distinctive theories in psychiatry, all based upon the method of psychoanalysis. Some of his key concepts include the ego/superego/id, free association, trauma/fantasy, dream interpretation, and jokes and the unconscious. “Freud remained a determinist throughout his life, believing that all vital phenomena, including psychological phenomena like thoughts, feelings and phantasies, are rigidly determined by the principle of cause and effect” (Storr, 1989, p. 2). Through the discussion of those central concepts, Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis becomes clear as to how he construed human character.
To supplement such deficient, both psychoanalytic and humanistic psychologies have provided their perspectives on it. Psychoanalytic Perspective = = = =
From the History of an Infantile Neurosis represents a fascinating case written by Sigmund Freud that was published in 1918. It is one of his most important cases since it covers many aspects for possible development of key questions and concepts concerning psychoanalysis. It shows the fascinating story of Sergeï Konstantinovitch Pankejeff, “the Wolf Man” who had a lifetime commitment to psychoanalysis while Freud and other analysts were trying to find a possible solution to his psychotic episodes and neuroses. This allowed him to become a professional patient and have a strong influence on psychoanalysis. How Freud represented his life story very easily allowed the existence of different views concerning his way of treatment, but also the
The psychodynamic approach is a psychological perspective developed by Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson. Sigmund Freud was a specialist who specialised in disorders of the central nervous system. He believed that some types of phobias resulted due to past traumatic experiences. Freud helped patients with traumas to talk about their experience from which he observed how these traumatic experiences lead to the patient becoming conscious. He stated that encouraging the patient to talk about their traumatic experience gave the patient a chance to get rid of the causes of their neurotic symptoms.
In terms of the unconscious and conscious, Freud situates these conceptions in a topographic model of the mind. He divided it into two systems called the unconscious and the preconscious. Their knowledge in the unconscious system is repressed and unavailable to consciousness without overcoming resistances (e.g., defense mechanisms). Thereby, the repression does not allow unconscious knowledge to be completely aware; rather, it is construed by means of concealing and compromise, but only interpretable through its derivatives dream and parapraxes that overcome resistance by means of disguise and compromise. Within the preconscious system, the contents could be accessible, although only a small portion at any given moment. Unconscious thought is characterized by primary process thinking that lacks negation or logical connections and favors the over-inclusions and 'just-as' relationships evident in condensed dream images and displacements. Freud asserted that primary process of thinking was phylogenetically, and continues to be ontogenetically, prior to secondary process or logical thought, acquired later in childhood and familiar to us in our waking life (1900, 1915a).
The unconscious is the largest part of the mind. All the things that are not easily available t...