The importance of conversion disorders in psychoanalysis is based upon:
A)Freud's discovery that patients with conversion disorders were usually victims of sexual abuse.
B)Freud, who suffered from and overcame a conversion disorder.
C)Freud's belief that more directive methods were appropriate for treating conversion disorders, paving the way for linking psychoanalysis and behaviour therapy.
D)Freud's development of many psychoanalytic concepts while treating patients with conversion disorder.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Freud developed many psychoanalytic concepts while treating patients with conversion disorder, such as the concept of repression, unconscious conflicts, and the role of the ego in managing anxiety. This made conversion disorders an important area of study for psychoanalysis. Option A is incorrect because Freud later recanted his theory that conversion disorders were related to sexual abuse. Option B is incorrect because while Freud did suffer from a conversion disorder, it is not the reason why conversion disorders are important in psychoanalysis. Option C is also incorrect because Freud did not pave the way for behavior therapy to treat conversion disorders; in fact, his approach was quite different from behavior therapy.

The Importance of Conversion Disorders in Psychoanalysis Is Based Upon