Question 1

What was the topic of Freud's first research project?

Accepted Answer

Freud's first research project was indeed a search for the testes of the eel. Before becoming the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud spent time in research laboratories, including a period at the University of Vienna where he focused on neuroanatomy. His early work included studies on the reproductive organs of eels, attempting to locate and understand their testes, which was a topic of scientific curiosity at the time.

Question 2

The zeitgeist and ortgeist surrounding Freud and his work might have most directly contributed to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The zeitgeist (spirit of the time) and ortgeist (spirit of the place) surrounding Freud were characterized by a burgeoning interest in understanding human behavior and the mind, with a particular fascination towards sexuality as a primary driver of human actions. This cultural and intellectual environment most directly contributed to Freud's focus on sex and sexuality in his theories.

Question 3

What did Freud originally view as the fundamental precondition for hysteria?

Accepted Answer

Freud originally viewed infantile sexual experiences or early childhood sexual abuse as the fundamental precondition for hysteria. This perspective was part of his seduction theory, which he later revised.

Question 4

Freud's colleagues' response to his famous paper "The Aetiology of Hysteria" is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Freud's colleagues were largely cold and rejecting towards his paper "The Aetiology of Hysteria." This work, which introduced his theories on the psychological origins of hysteria, was met with skepticism and disapproval, reflecting the conservative attitudes of the time towards discussions of sexuality and mental health.

Question 5

Freud's famous paper "The Aetiology of Hysteria" originally focused on what group or sample population of clients?

Accepted Answer

Freud's paper "The Aetiology of Hysteria" primarily discussed cases of eighteen women and six men who had experienced childhood sexual abuse, which he believed played a crucial role in the development of hysteria.

Question 6

In the text, which of the following was/were offered as possible explanation(s) for why Freud recanted his seduction hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The correct explanations are that Freud abandoned his earlier views to discover the power of internal fantasy and spontaneous childhood sexuality, and that he was more focused on building his theory than on psychological reality.

Question 7

What is another name for Freud's dynamic approach?

Accepted Answer

Freud's dynamic approach is also known as drive theory or instinct theory, which emphasizes the role of unconscious drives and instincts in human behavior.

Question 8

Freud's dynamic approach to human psychology has become known as drive theory or instinct theory. He believed that humans are filled with mental or psychic energy. This energy comes from:

Accepted Answer

Freud's dynamic approach includes the concepts of Eros and Thanatos. Eros represents the life instinct, driving behaviors related to survival, reproduction, and pleasure. Thanatos, or the death instinct, represents an unconscious drive towards decay, destruction, and aggression. Psychos is not a term Freud used in this context.

Question 9

Which of the following statements represent(s) either the definition of psychic determinism or implications associated with psychic determinism?

Accepted Answer

Psychic determinism is a principle suggesting that all mental processes are not spontaneous but are determined by the unconscious or pre-existing mental complexes. Choices A and C accurately reflect this concept: A) emphasizes that every psychological aspect has an underlying cause, and C) implies that behaviors are not random but are determined by underlying psychological factors.

Question 10

The underlying omnipresent psychological explanations for every emotion, thought, impulse, and behavior is called:

Accepted Answer

Psychic determinism is a concept in Freudian psychology that suggests all psychological processes are not spontaneous but are determined by the unconscious or pre-existing mental complexes. It implies that all thoughts, emotions, and behaviors have an underlying cause rooted in the unconscious mind.

Question 11

Which of the following is clearly NOT related to Freud's topographic approach?

Accepted Answer

The id, ego, and superego are concepts from Freud's structural model of the psyche, not his topographic model which divides the mind into the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious.

Question 12

The main purpose of psychoanalytic therapy is to:

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalytic therapy, developed by Sigmund Freud, focuses on bringing unconscious thoughts and feelings to consciousness to help individuals understand and manage them. This process involves exploring past experiences, dreams, and the unconscious mind to gain insight into current behaviors and feelings.

Question 13

What might influence a child to develop a fixation or complex in a particular developmental stage?

Accepted Answer

Overly indulgent or withholding parenting styles can lead to fixations or complexes in children according to psychoanalytic theories, such as those proposed by Freud. These parenting styles can disrupt normal developmental processes, leading to unresolved conflicts or fixations in certain stages.

Question 14

A preoccupation with money, dirt, and time would likely be a result of a fixation at the __________ stage of development.

Accepted Answer

A preoccupation with money, dirt, and time is often associated with the anal stage of psychosexual development, according to Freudian theory. This stage occurs roughly between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, where the focus of pleasure is on the anus and with activities related to elimination (e.g., toilet training). Fixation at this stage can lead to traits such as orderliness, stinginess, and stubbornness in adulthood.

Question 15

The superego consists of which the following?

Accepted Answer

The superego, according to Freudian psychoanalytic theory, is divided into two main components: the conscience and the ego ideal. The conscience can punish the ego through causing feelings of guilt, while the ego ideal is an idealized self-image towards which the individual strives.

Question 16

What did Freud mean by the normal-abnormal continuum?

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that every normal personality has traces of psychopathology, suggesting that normal and abnormal behaviors exist on a continuum rather than being distinct categories.

Question 17

Which of Freud's ego defense mechanisms is characteristic of a client being afraid to express aggression toward someone, so instead the client may behave in an excessively loving manner?

Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual behaves in a way that is directly opposite to how they feel, often to hide their true feelings. In this case, expressing excessive love instead of aggression is a classic example of reaction formation.

Question 18

Which of the following is true about defense mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms are automatic and unconscious processes that protect individuals from anxiety and the awareness of internal or external dangers or stressors. They do not necessarily help clients view reality more accurately; instead, they often distort reality to reduce stress and anxiety, which is why option C is incorrect.

Question 19

A boy and a girl aged 11 are constantly bickering, and say that they hate each other. Yet you suspect that they actually like each other. Their behavior is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual acts in a manner opposite to their actual feelings or impulses, often to hide their true feelings. In this case, the bickering and expressions of hate could be a way to mask their actual fondness for each other.

Question 20

In the midst of a psychoanalytically oriented counseling session, Mr. Green, a client of Dr. John Sommers-Flanagan, begins sucking his thumb and then runs from the office screaming, "I want my mommmmmmy." Which defense mechanism seems to be operating here?

Accepted Answer

Regression is the defense mechanism at play here. Mr. Green is reverting to behaviors of a much younger stage of development, such as thumb-sucking and crying for his mother, in response to stress or uncomfortable feelings, which is characteristic of regression.

Quiz 2: Psychoanalytic Approaches