Question 1

The defense mechanism upon which the whole structure of psychoanalysis rests is the one known as repression.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Freud believed that repression was the primary defense mechanism used by the human psyche to protect itself from anxiety and other negative emotions. He believed that repressed memories and feelings can resurface in later life and cause psychological disturbances if not properly addressed through psychoanalytic therapy.

Question 2

When a patient declares to his or her therapist that the therapy isn't helping and he or she wants to stop treatment, the patient is developing a necessary part of therapy called transference.

Accepted Answer

The patient expressing dissatisfaction with therapy and wanting to stop treatment is not necessarily an example of transference. Transference refers to the unconscious redirection of feelings and attitudes from one person to another, often from past relationships onto the therapist.

Question 3

A patient in psychoanalysis suddenly begins to miss his regularly scheduled therapy appointment. When he does make his appointment, he complains that the therapy is not making progress and should be brought to an end. Freud might have made each of the following statements about this behavior except one. Which one?

Accepted Answer

Freud would not have suggested that the therapist explore new directions in trying to uncover the source of the patient's problem in response to the patient's missed appointments and desire to end therapy. Instead, he would see the patient's behavior as a form of resistance, an unconscious attempt to avoid painful emotions and memories that might be uncovered through therapy. Freud would likely interpret the patient's complaints about lack of progress as further evidence of resistance rather than a conscious belief about the effectiveness of therapy. While he might see a breakthrough as possible or even likely in this situation, he would not necessarily claim that the therapist was on the "right track," as the patient's resistance may require the therapist to take a different approach.

Question 4

When Freud was invited to give lectures on psychoanalysis at Clark University in 1909, his work was generally accepted by academic psychologists.

Accepted Answer

Freud faced significant criticism and skepticism from academic psychologists during his visit to Clark University and his work was not generally accepted at that time.

Question 5

Which of the following is true about projective tests?

Accepted Answer

Projective tests involve presenting ambiguous stimuli to test-takers and interpreting their responses in order to gain insight into their personality traits or psychological state. Options B and C are incorrect because test-givers do not look for correct or incorrect answers in projective tests, and the tests are not used to measure personality traits along a particular dimension. Option D is partially correct, as projective tests are not as commonly used in modern psychology as they once were, but they are still used in certain contexts.

Question 6

Users of the Rorschach inkblot test point out that projective tests must be used because there are no objective criteria to assess the kinds of unconscious thoughts that projective tests measure. They make this point when arguing against the criticism that there is little evidence for

Accepted Answer

The question asks us to identify which criticism of the Rorschach inkblot test has little evidence. Option A refers to the reliability of the test, which has been a topic of debate but has evidence to support it. Option B refers to the internal consistency of the test, which has also been questioned but has evidence to support it. Option D refers to interjudge agreement on what responses mean, which has been criticized but there is some evidence to support it. Therefore, the correct answer is C, as there is little evidence to support the validity of the Rorschach inkblot test. Validity refers to whether a test measures what it claims to measure, and critics argue that the Rorschach does not consistently measure unconscious thoughts as it claims to do.

Question 7

One defense mechanism that is successful, productive, and adaptive is reaction formation.

Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is considered a defense mechanism, but it is not necessarily productive or adaptive as it involves converting unwanted thoughts or feelings into their opposites, which can lead to inauthentic behavior and unresolved internal conflicts.

Question 8

In the interpretation of dreams, Freud called what the dreamer sees and remembers the latent content of the dream.

Accepted Answer

In the interpretation of dreams, Freud called what the dreamer sees and remembers the manifest content of the dream, while the latent content is the hidden psychological meaning of the dream.

Question 9

Three parts of the personality that differ in terms of their level of awareness make up the structural model in Freudian theory.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Three parts of the personality that differ...

Question 10

Describe Freud's collaboration with Joseph Breuer, noting their work with Anna O. and identifying the treatment techniques that emerged from that famous case.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe Freud's collaboration with Joseph Breuer, noting...

Question 11

Clients in therapy who claim they forgot a regular appointment with their therapist could be displaying a form of

Accepted Answer

Forgetting a regular appointment can be a manifestation of resistance, where the client subconsciously or consciously avoids confronting difficult issues or feelings in therapy.

Question 12

The techniques the ego uses to deal with unwanted thoughts and desires are collectively known as defense mechanisms.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies that the ego uses to protect itself from anxiety caused by an individual's unwanted thoughts or desires. Common defense mechanisms include repression, denial, displacement, and rationalization.

Question 13

The primary job of the ego is to satisfy id impulses in a manner that does not upset the moral needs of the superego.

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects the concept of the ego's role in balancing the demands of the id and superego, which are two components of Freud's structural theory of the psyche. The id represents primal impulses and desires, while the superego represents the internalized moral standards and values of society. The ego helps to navigate between these conflicting forces and find a compromise that satisfies both the individual's needs and the larger moral framework.

Question 14

Which of the following is correct about research with the Rorschach inkblot test?

Accepted Answer

The Rorschach inkblot test has been a subject of controversy among psychologists, with disagreements over how to interpret its validity. While some studies suggest certain aspects of the test may have validity for specific purposes, there is no consensus, leading to differing interpretations of the evidence.

Question 15

Make a list of the defense mechanisms proposed by Freud. For each mechanism, give an example from your own life or someone you know who has used the defense mechanism to reduce or avoid anxiety.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Make a list of the defense mechanisms...

Question 16

Which of the following, which describes the case where a therapist displaces their own feelings toward other individuals onto a client, is not a step in successful psychoanalysis?

Accepted Answer

Countertransference is when a therapist projects their own feelings onto the client, which is not a step in psychoanalysis but rather a phenomenon that can occur during therapy. Psychoanalysis typically involves understanding the client's unconscious through methods like dream interpretation, exploring resistance, and analyzing transference patterns.

Question 17

Describe each stage of psychosexual development in order, giving the approximate age when it takes place and an example of a fixation during the stage. Include in your description which structures emerge and when, according to Freud.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe each stage of psychosexual development in...

Question 18

Discuss how Freud discovered the unconscious, including his use of hypnosis and free association to get at unconscious material. Describe the relationship between the topographical model and the structural model Freud proposed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how Freud discovered the unconscious, including...

Question 19

Critics argue that if one of Freud's patients said "I love my father," Freud would take this as evidence of a reaction formation, yet if the same patient said "I hate my father," he would see this as a breakthrough and confirmation of his hypothesis. Critics use this example to try to make which point?

Accepted Answer

Freud's theories are often criticized for being unfalsifiable, meaning that they cannot be tested or proven wrong, as any outcome can be interpreted to fit the theory.

Question 20

Sandy is given a set of cards by her therapist on which ambiguous pictures of people are displayed. Sandy is asked to tell a story about what is happening in each picture. To understand and treat her psychological problems, Sandy's therapist is using the

Accepted Answer

The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) involves presenting individuals with ambiguous pictures and asking them to tell a story about what is happening in the picture. The therapist then analyzes the person's responses to gain insight into their unconscious feelings, motives, and conflicts. This is likely the tool Sandy's therapist is using to understand and treat her psychological problems. The other tests listed (Rorschach inkblot, free association, and human figure drawing) may also be used in psychological assessment, but they are not specifically designed for interpreting ambiguous pictures of people.

Quiz 3: The Psychoanalytic Approach: Freudian Theory, Application, and Assessment