Question 1

You go to your therapist for the first time and he tells you to lie on a couch in a slightly darkened room. He then asks you to talk about anything that comes to your mind, no matter how trivial it may seem. The technique being used by your therapist is known as

Accepted Answer

The technique described is known as free association, which was developed by Sigmund Freud as a key aspect of psychoanalysis. The patient is encouraged to speak their mind without censorship or self-editing, allowing unconscious thoughts and associations to emerge. This technique is designed to uncover repressed material and provide insight into the patient's psychological conflicts and motivations.

Question 2

A psychodynamic therapist finds that a client has difficulty with the __________ method and concludes that the client is having difficulty breaking through his defenses against unconscious impulses.

Accepted Answer

Free association is a technique used in psychodynamic therapy to explore the unconscious mind. If a client has difficulty with this method, it may indicate that they are struggling to bypass their defenses and access unconscious impulses.

Question 3

Freud proposed the concept of __________ to describe the spilling forth of psychic energy that had been repressed by feelings of guilt.

Accepted Answer

Freud's concept of catharsis suggests that repressed emotions can be released through their expression, leading to a sense of emotional release or cleansing. It contrasts with the idea of resistance, which describes the unwillingness or inability to confront and work through unconscious thoughts and feelings. The id and superego are parts of Freud's structural model of the psyche and are not directly related to the concept of catharsis.

Question 4

__________ therapies are based on the thinking of Sigmund Freud.

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic therapies are based on the thinking of Sigmund Freud, who believed that unconscious thoughts and feelings influence behavior. These therapies focus on exploring the subconscious mind to help patients gain insight and resolve their internal conflicts. Gestalt, client-centered, and behavioral therapies do not have their foundations in Freudian psychology.

Question 5

The psychoanalytic method explains difficulties with the free association method as based on the client's __________ to threatening unconscious material.

Accepted Answer

The psychoanalytic method suggests that clients have resistance (B) to threatening unconscious material, which makes it difficult for them to freely associate and verbalize their thoughts and emotions. Abreaction (A) refers to the emotional release and discharge of repressed feelings, impulses (C) denote a sudden desire to do something without thinking about the consequences, and confession (D) involves admitting guilt or wrongdoing, which is not directly related to the difficulties with free association in psychoanalytic therapy.

Question 6

A client avoids talking about his relationship with his father. The psychoanalyst asks him to talk about this relationship. The client becomes restless and claims, "There is nothing to tell." This is indicative of

Accepted Answer

The client's avoidance and restlessness in response to the psychoanalyst's inquiry about his relationship with his father suggest that the client is experiencing resistance, which is a common defense mechanism in psychoanalysis. Resistance refers to the unconscious efforts made by the client to hinder their exploration of painful or threatening material. In this case, the client's claim that there is nothing to tell about his relationship with his father may be an attempt to avoid delving into possible conflicts or emotional pain associated with their relationship.

Question 7

A client reclines as they talk about whatever comes to mind. The therapist listens and notices relationships or time periods that the client avoids talking about. This is the __________ method of therapy.

Accepted Answer

The description given matches the psychoanalytic method of therapy, which involves the therapist listening for unconscious conflicts, patterns, and motivations that may be affecting the client's behavior and emotions. The therapist may notice topics or time periods that the client avoids talking about, and use techniques such as free association or dream analysis to uncover repressed thoughts and feelings.

Question 8

Bob refuses to discuss his adolescent years with his therapist. He makes up excuses for not doing so by saying, "I don't remember what happened during those years, it must not be important." What is this tendency called?

Accepted Answer

This tendency is called resistance. Resistance is the client's unconscious attempt to avoid the confrontation of anxiety-producing material during therapy. In this case, Bob is avoiding discussing his adolescent years, which may contain anxiety-producing memories or emotions.

Question 9

Lea is experiencing therapy in which she is encouraged to discuss whatever is on her mind, regardless of what she might be thinking. This therapeutic technique is called

Accepted Answer

Free association is a therapeutic technique in which the patient is encouraged to freely talk about whatever comes to their mind without censoring their thoughts or feelings. This technique is commonly used in psychoanalysis.

Question 10

Freud felt that __________ provided relief to the client by releasing pent up tension caused by repressed conflict and guilt.

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that catharsis, or the release of repressed emotions and conflicts, provided relief to the client by releasing pent up tension.

Question 11

A client accuses his psychoanalyst of sounding just like his father. This client is exhibiting

Accepted Answer

The client is exhibiting transference, which is a phenomenon in which the client projects onto the therapist feelings and attitudes that were originally associated with important figures in the client's life, such as parents or siblings. In this case, the client is perceiving the psychoanalyst as being like his father, indicating that the client is transferring feelings and attitudes that he has towards his father onto the therapist.

Question 12

You are about to discontinue your therapy because your therapist simply sits and does nothing while you do all the talking. When you complain, the therapist assures you that this is typical in

Accepted Answer

In psychoanalytic therapy, the therapist often maintains a neutral and non-directive approach, allowing the client to freely associate and explore their thoughts and emotions. This approach is sometimes referred to as the "blank screen" technique, where the therapist intentionally does not offer much verbal feedback or guidance and remains a neutral presence in the session. Therefore, the therapist's behavior in this scenario is consistent with the approach of psychoanalytic therapy.

Question 13

The aim of psychodynamic treatment is

Accepted Answer

The aim of psychodynamic treatment is to increase insight into unconscious patterns of behavior and thought, in order to bring about lasting change. The other options (behavioral change, increased self-esteem, and peace of mind) may be positive outcomes of psychodynamic treatment, but they are not the primary aim.

Question 14

__________ is the traditional form of psychoanalytic therapy as pioneered by Sigmund Freud.

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalysis is the traditional form of psychoanalytic therapy that follows the principles and techniques developed by Sigmund Freud. Insight therapy is a broader term that includes various forms of therapy aimed at gaining insight into a person's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Ego psychology is a psychodynamic theory that focuses on the role of the ego in human behavior. Psychogenesis refers to the development of psychological disorders over time.

Question 15

You have consulted a therapist because of psychological difficulties. Your therapist instructs you to lie down on a couch in a slightly darkened room. The therapist encourages you to say anything that comes to mind while he says little or nothing for session after session. You have selected a __________ therapist.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described matches the technique of psychoanalysis, which is characterized by free association and involves the patient lying down and expressing their thoughts and emotions while the therapist listens without interruption. The focus is on uncovering unconscious conflicts and promoting insight into one's emotional life.

Question 16

You go to your therapist for the first time and she tells you to lie on a couch in a slightly darkened room. She then asks you to talk about anything that comes to mind, no matter how trivial it may seem. What kind of psychotherapy are you undergoing?

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is characteristic of traditional psychoanalysis, where the therapist focuses on the client's unconscious thoughts and feelings, often through free association, in order to help them gain insight into their underlying psychological conflicts and issues. The use of a couch and a slightly darkened room are part of the traditional decor and ambiance of a psychoanalytic setting.  Systematic desensitization and flooding are specific techniques used in behavior therapy for treating anxiety disorders, while person-centered therapy is a humanistic approach focused on creating a nonjudgmental and supportive therapeutic environment.

Question 17

Your psychology instructor claims that psychological problems reflect early childhood experiences and internal conflicts involving the shifting of psychic energy among the psychic structures. Who does your instructor sound similar to?

Accepted Answer

The instructor's claim reflects the psychoanalytic perspective of Sigmund Freud, who believed that psychological problems stem from unresolved conflicts in early childhood experiences and the shifting of psychic energy among the id, ego, and superego. Rogers and Maslow are associated with humanistic psychology, which focuses on individuals' innate drive towards personal growth and self-actualization. Watson is a behaviorist, who focused on observable behavior and rejected the notion of internal psychological conflicts.

Question 18

According to psychoanalytic therapies, what is the origin of psychological disorders?

Accepted Answer

According to psychoanalytic therapies, the origin of psychological disorders lies in early childhood experiences and inner conflicts. These experiences and conflicts can lead to unconscious thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that cause distress and dysfunction in adulthood.

Question 19

A goal of psychoanalysis was to strengthen the psychic structure that Freud called the

Accepted Answer

The goal of psychoanalysis was to strengthen the individual's ego, which is responsible for mediating between the demands of the id and the realities of the external world. This strengthening was done through the process of uncovering and working through unconscious conflicts and repressed emotions. Freud believed that a strong ego was essential for a healthy and adaptive psyche.

Question 20

Hannah's therapist believes her anxiety is the result of unconscious impulses that are breaking through to the conscious level. Her therapist endorses the __________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

The belief in unconscious impulses that are influencing conscious behavior, as well as the mention of a therapist, indicates that the perspective in question is psychoanalytic.

Quiz 13: Methods of Therapy