Question 1

Reaction formation is a defense mechanism characterized by

Accepted Answer

Reaction formation involves doing the opposite of the unconscious wish in order to avoid the anxiety or guilt associated with the original impulse. For example, someone who has unconscious aggressive tendencies may behave excessively kind and passive in order to repress those aggressive urges. Option B describes the defense mechanism of displacement, option C describes projection, and option D describes repression.

Question 2

Displacement is a defense mechanism characterized by

Accepted Answer

Displacement involves taking unconscious desires or impulses and directing them towards a safer target. For example, if a person is angry with their boss but cannot express that anger, they may go home and yell at their spouse instead. This redirection of the anger towards a safer target (the spouse) is displacement.

Question 3

According to psychodynamic theory,the _____ is the part of the mind that generates defense mechanisms.

Accepted Answer

According to psychodynamic theory, the ego is the part of the mind that generates defense mechanisms. The ego's primary function is to mediate between the demands of the id (the unconscious, instinctual part of the mind) and the demands of the external world. When the ego feels threatened or anxious, it can employ defense mechanisms (such as repression, denial, or projection) to protect itself from psychological discomfort. These defense mechanisms are thought to be unconscious processes that help the ego cope with anxiety and maintain psychological equilibrium.

Question 4

When a patient is asked to engage in _____,the patient's task is to verbalize any thought that comes to mind,no matter how nonsensical,inappropriate,illogical,or unimportant it may seem.

Accepted Answer

Free association is a technique used in psychotherapy where the patient is encouraged to let their thoughts flow freely without censorship or judgment, by verbalizing any thought that comes to mind, no matter how nonsensical or irrational it may seem. This technique is used to access the patient's unconscious thoughts and emotions that may be repressed or hidden from their awareness, and to gain insight into their inner conflicts and psychological struggles.

Question 5

Psychodynamic psychotherapy refers broadly to the approach authored by _____ and all subsequent adaptations or expansions of it.

Accepted Answer

Psychodynamic psychotherapy refers to the approach authored by Sigmund Freud, which focuses on the role of unconscious motivations and conflicts in behavior and emotional functioning. While other theorists and practitioners have expanded or adapted the approach over time, it remains rooted in Freud's original work.

Question 6

According to psychodynamic theory,the _____ is the part of the mind that generates all pleasure-seeking,selfish,indulgent,animalistic impulses.

Accepted Answer

According to psychodynamic theory, the id is the part of the mind that generates all pleasure-seeking, selfish, indulgent, animalistic impulses. The ego and superego are other parts of the mind in this theory, with the ego balancing and mediating between the id and external reality, and the superego representing internalized societal and cultural standards of behavior.

Question 7

_____ is the defense mechanism in which the ego projects an id impulse onto other people around us.

Accepted Answer

Projection is the defense mechanism in which the ego attributes an unwanted impulse or attribute of the self onto another person, making it easier to cope with one's anxiety or discomfort. It allows the individual to distance themselves from the feeling or desire and attribute it to someone else.

Question 8

When a patient is asked to engage in _____,the therapist presents the patient with a word,and the patient is to respond with the first word that comes to mind.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a patient is asked to engage...

Question 9

Which of the following best defines a defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A defense mechanism is a psychological strategy or behavior that a person uses unconsciously to protect themselves from challenging emotions or situations. It is often used to manage the conflict between the id and the superego, which are Freud's terms for the primitive, instinctual part of the psyche and the more rational, moralistic part.

Question 10

Free association

Accepted Answer

Free association is a technique used by psychodynamic psychotherapists to access the unconscious mind of their clients. It involves asking clients to speak freely without filtering or censoring their thoughts in any way. Therefore, both options A and B are correct.

Question 11

Prior to Freud,

Accepted Answer

Prior to Freud, mental health professionals did not acknowledge mental activity occurring outside our awareness, which is the main tenet of Freud's theory of the unconscious mind. While some earlier philosophers and psychologists had touched on the idea of the unconscious, it was not a widely accepted or elaborated upon concept before Freud. The influence of the unconscious on mental health was not specifically linked to depression and anxiety until Freud's work.

Question 12

Ron is a psychotherapy client who senses that certain unconscious material will soon be exposed.This makes him anxious,so he abruptly changes the subject and then misses his next appointment.Ron's psychodynamic psychotherapist is likely to understand Ron's actions as _____.

Accepted Answer

Ron's behavior is an example of resistance, which is when a client consciously or unconsciously avoids discussing certain thoughts, feelings or experiences that may be uncomfortable or frightening. In this case, Ron's anxiety about exposing unconscious material led him to avoid it altogether by changing the subject and missing his appointment.

Question 13

Dr.James "forgets" to unlock the front door to his office on a Saturday when his only patient is Millie,a loud,disagreeable woman who often yells during therapy sessions.According to the psychodynamic school of thought,this is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a Freudian slip, which is an unintentional error or mistake that reveals an unconscious thought or feeling. Dr. James may have locked the door subconsciously because he wanted to limit Millie's ability to yell during the session.

Question 14

According to the psychodynamic approach,the process by which the latent content of a dream is converted into manifest content is called _____.

Accepted Answer

The process by which the latent content of a dream is converted into manifest content is called dream work, according to the psychodynamic approach. Dream work involves various mechanisms such as condensation, displacement, and symbolism to transform latent content into manifest content.

Question 15

According to psychodynamic theory,the _____ is the part of the mind that establishes rules,restrictions,and prohibitions.

Accepted Answer

The superego is the part of the mind that establishes rules, restrictions, and prohibitions. It is responsible for creating a sense of morality, and it operates on the principle of perfection, striving for idealized standards of behavior.

Question 16

The primary goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy is

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy is to make the unconscious conscious, by exploring the patient's past experiences, emotions, and unresolved conflicts. This aims to provide insight into the patient's psychological issues and eventually resolve them.

Question 17

Of all defense mechanisms,_____ is typically considered to be the most mature or healthy by psychodynamic psychotherapists.

Accepted Answer

Sublimation involves channeling potentially harmful or unacceptable impulses into productive or socially acceptable outlets, such as artistic or athletic pursuits. This allows individuals to deal with their emotions in a constructive way rather than repressing or denying them. Psychodynamic psychotherapists view sublimation as a mature defense mechanism because it allows individuals to handle their conflicts in a way that benefits both themselves and society.

Question 18

According to the psychodynamic approach,the actual plot of a dream as the dreamer remembers it is the _____.

Accepted Answer

According to the psychodynamic approach, the manifest content of a dream refers to the actual plot of the dream as remembered by the dreamer. It is believed to be the surface-level content that is accessible to conscious awareness and serves as a disguise for the underlying latent content. The latent content, on the other hand, refers to the unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires that are being expressed in the dream. Dream work refers to the process by which the latent content is transformed into the manifest content through various mechanisms such as condensation and displacement. Projection, in psychodynamic theory, involves attributing one's unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto someone else.

Question 19

When clients sense that certain unconscious thoughts and feelings are being laid bare too extensively or too quickly,they create distractions or obstacles that impede the exploration of those thoughts and feelings.This is known as _____.

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe the phenomenon of clients creating distractions or obstacles to avoid the exploration of uncomfortable thoughts or feelings is resistance. Defensiveness refers to an automatic response to protect oneself from perceived threats, displacement is a defense mechanism in which one redirects their feelings or behaviors onto something or someone else, and transference refers to the client's transfer of emotions or attitudes from past experiences onto the therapist. While these concepts are related to resistance, they do not specifically describe the phenomenon of clients actively impeding exploration of their unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Question 20

The term _____ succinctly captures the primary goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy is to help clients gain insight into their unconscious thoughts and emotions that are impacting their current behavior and patterns. This insight allows clients to make changes and have more control over their behavior and relationships. Therefore, the term "insight" best captures the primary goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Quiz 12: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy