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# Biography of Sigmund Freud This section outlines the life, education, influences, and personal journey of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis [3](#page=3) [5](#page=5) [6](#page=6) [7](#page=7). ### 1.1 Early life and education Sigmund Freud was born in 1856. He attended medical school at the University of Vienna. Initially, Freud's academic focus was on physiology, but he later shifted his interests towards neurology. He developed an early interest in substance abuse [3](#page=3). ### 1.2 Key influences and theoretical development A significant influence on Freud's work was Jean-Martin Charcot, whom he encountered in Paris. Charcot utilized hypnosis to treat conversion reactions associated with hysteria. Freud adopted this approach, but eventually substituted hypnosis with dream analysis and free association in his therapeutic practice [3](#page=3). Working alongside Josef Breuer, Freud studied a patient known as "Anna O.," who suffered from hysterical symptoms. Through hypnosis, Anna O. was able to recall painful emotional memories in a cathartic manner, leading to her improvement. This experience was pivotal in Freud's development of his psychoanalytic theory [5](#page=5). > **Tip:** Freud's shift from hypnosis to free association and dream analysis marked a crucial step in the evolution of psychoanalytic techniques, emphasizing the patient's own narrative and unconscious associations. ### 1.3 Personal life and relationships In 1886, Sigmund Freud married Martha Bernays. They had six children together, with their youngest daughter, Anna Freud, also becoming a prominent figure in psychoanalysis. Despite his neurological training, Freud's primary interest lay in the psychological realm [5](#page=5). Freud maintained a close friendship with Wilhelm Fleiss, an ear-nose-throat specialist. Fleiss held theories connecting the nose and sexual organs as a source of problematic masturbation. Freud and his circle of followers engaged in "Wednesday night gatherings" to discuss and refine their ideas, contributing to Freud's growing fame [6](#page=6). > **Tip:** The intellectual exchange within Freud's circle, particularly through the "Wednesday night gatherings," highlights the collaborative and evolving nature of early psychoanalytic thought. ### 1.4 Later life and exile Freud's career and life were impacted by health issues and political turmoil. He developed cancer of the palate, which led to a grueling decade involving 33 surgeries and significant pain. During World War II, the Nazis confiscated and burned Freud's books, and psychoanalysis was banned. This persecution forced Freud to escape to London [6](#page=6) [7](#page=7). Freud ultimately died in 1939 from jaw and throat cancer [7](#page=7). > **Example:** The persecution by the Nazis and Freud's subsequent exile underscore the socio-political context in which his theories developed and were received, highlighting the bravery required to continue his work under duress. --- # Freudian theory of psychodynamics and personality structure Freudian psychodynamics explains personality as a dynamic interplay of conscious and unconscious motives and structural components, driven by conflicting forces [8](#page=8) [9](#page=9). ### 2.1 Psychodynamics: The forces of the mind Psychodynamics governs how personality forms, grows, and adapts. The term "dynamics" refers to the forces or motives that create interactions among the different parts of the human mind. These parts can act in harmony or opposition to one another, often in conflict and at varying levels of awareness. Personality itself is the product of this constantly changing balance among these conflicting motives and structures. Changes in psychoanalysis result from altering these psychodynamic interactions, including resistance, defenses, and transference [8](#page=8) [9](#page=9). ### 2.2 Personality structure: Id, ego, and superego Freud proposed that personality is composed of three interacting structures: the id, ego, and superego. These structures develop within the psychosexual stages, with libidinal energy initially concentrated in the id and gradually extending to the ego and superego [16](#page=16) [19](#page=19). #### 2.2.1 The id The id is entirely unconscious and begins to develop during the oral stage. It represents the primitive, raw, and instinctual part of the personality. The id strives for the satisfaction of biological needs and aims for immediate self-gratification. It is governed by the **pleasure principle** [20](#page=20). > **Tip:** The pleasure principle drives the id to seek immediate sexual and aggressive satisfaction, often through substitutes if direct gratification is not possible, and disregards consequences [21](#page=21). The id operates with the **primary process**. It is irrational, respects no boundaries, and cannot distinguish between right and wrong. Its main aim is need satisfaction or gratification, and it is self-serving, showing no concern for others [21](#page=21). #### 2.2.2 The superego The superego is both conscious and unconscious and starts developing during the phallic stage. It functions as the individual's conscience, incorporating social norms and standards. The superego is governed by the **morality principle**, emphasizing right and wrong behaviors [22](#page=22). The superego is formed through **introjection**, where a child internalizes norms into their personality. Parents convey their values through conditional love, offering approval for good behavior and punishment for bad behavior [23](#page=23). > **Tip:** The superego controls behavior by inducing feelings of guilt. Doing something right may lead to pride, while doing something wrong can result in shame and guilt. Excessive guilt may underlie neurosis, while too little guilt might indicate a personality disorder [24](#page=24). #### 2.2.3 The ego The ego is the psychological aspect of personality and is both conscious and unconscious, having access to consciousness. It begins to develop during the anal stage. The ego acts as a bridge between the id and reality [25](#page=25). The ego attempts to satisfy the id's needs while considering the external environment and its suitability. It guides the id to check primitive instincts. The ego realizes that desires must align with individual survival, seeking satisfaction without causing harm to the organism. It respects boundaries and delays gratification [25](#page=25) [26](#page=26). The ego uses the **secondary process**, which involves higher-level thinking and problem-solving. It thinks, plans, evaluates, and functions accordingly. The ego also deals with the superego [26](#page=26). > **Example:** When the ego cannot bridge the gap between the id and the superego, anxiety arises. The ego attempts to manage this intra-psychic anxiety by employing defense mechanisms to reduce anxiety. While these mechanisms, such as repression, prevent emotional material from reaching awareness, they can lead to distortions of reality [27](#page=27). --- # Levels of consciousness and defense mechanisms This section explores the hierarchical levels of mental awareness and the ego's strategies for managing anxiety and internal conflicts. ### 3.1 Levels of consciousness The human mind is understood to operate on three distinct levels of awareness. These levels describe the accessibility of thoughts, feelings, and memories to an individual [12](#page=12). #### 3.1.1 Conscious This level encompasses all material that is currently within an individual's immediate awareness. It represents what a person is actively thinking or perceiving at any given moment [12](#page=12). #### 3.1.2 Preconscious The preconscious contains information that is not currently in immediate awareness but can be voluntarily brought into consciousness when needed. These are memories or thoughts that are accessible with a bit of effort [12](#page=12). #### 3.1.3 Unconscious The unconscious is the deepest level of awareness, housing thoughts, wishes, emotions, memories, and impulses that an individual is not aware of and cannot voluntarily access. Material enters the unconscious when experiences are disturbing and are pushed down to avoid awareness. Although hidden, this material continues to influence behavior. Psychoanalysis aims to bring this unconscious material to the surface to be understood and resolved. When disturbing material surfaces, the ego perceives a threat and employs defense mechanisms to resist awareness and protect itself [13](#page=13). > **Tip:** The concept of the unconscious is central to psychoanalytic theory, suggesting that much of our behavior is driven by forces we are not aware of [13](#page=13). ### 3.2 Defense mechanisms Defense mechanisms are strategies employed by the ego to manage anxiety and unacceptable thoughts, feelings, wishes, urges, and impulses. These mechanisms were primarily named by Anna Freud. The ego uses these strategies to protect itself from distress [28](#page=28). > **Tip:** The effectiveness and healthiness of a defense mechanism can vary. The more a defense distorts reality, the more destructive it can be. Extreme reliance on defense mechanisms can lead to psychopathology [35](#page=35). #### 3.2.1 Repression Repression involves the ego forcing unpleasant, unwanted, or anxiety-producing events out of consciousness. The suppressed material may later surface indirectly through transference, symptoms, or dreams. Psychoanalytic analysis attempts to bring this repressed material back into consciousness [29](#page=29). #### 3.2.2 Denial Denial is the refusal to acknowledge a painful reality or a threatening aspect of oneself or the world [29](#page=29). #### 3.2.3 Displacement Displacement occurs when unacceptable thoughts, feelings, wishes, urges, or impulses are redirected from their original, true target to a less threatening one [29](#page=29). #### 3.2.4 Projection Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, wishes, urges, or impulses onto someone else. This protects the ego from having to confront distasteful personal characteristics [31](#page=31). #### 3.2.5 Reaction formation Reaction formation is a defense mechanism where an individual acts, thinks, and feels in a manner that is the exact opposite of their unacceptable thoughts, feelings, wishes, urges, or impulses [31](#page=31). #### 3.2.6 Undoing Undoing involves performing an action to neutralize or negate unacceptable thoughts, feelings, wishes, urges, or impulses that the person later regrets [31](#page=31). #### 3.2.7 Introjection (identification) Introjection, also known as identification, is the process of taking in an object or aspect of another person to make it part of oneself, often without conscious evaluation [33](#page=33). #### 3.2.8 Rationalization Rationalization is the intellectual justification for unacceptable thoughts, wishes, and behaviors. It involves creating logical but often false reasons to explain away undesirable actions or feelings [33](#page=33) [40](#page=40). > **Example:** "I cheated on my wife because she was not interested in me anymore" [33](#page=33). #### 3.2.9 Intellectualization/Isolation Intellectualization, or isolation, is the process of removing the emotion from a difficult memory or threatening impulse, thereby treating it as a purely intellectual or detached matter [34](#page=34). #### 3.2.10 Regression Regression occurs when an individual reverts to a less mature and more childish level of functioning in response to stress or anxiety [34](#page=34). #### 3.2.11 Sublimation Sublimation is considered one of the most healthy defense mechanisms. It involves channeling unacceptable thoughts, feelings, wishes, urges, and impulses into socially acceptable activities or pursuits [34](#page=34). > **Example:** Engaging in sports can be a form of sublimation [40](#page=40). ### 3.3 The role of defense mechanisms in psychopathology Conflicts between the id (primitive desires) and the superego (moral conscience) can create anxiety, which consumes psychic energy. If the ego weakens due to this energy drain, it may be unable to effectively mediate the conflict, leading to the development of neurosis. Defense mechanisms are then employed to cope with this heightened anxiety. However, if defenses excessively distort reality, they can become destructive and contribute to psychological distress [35](#page=35) [36](#page=36) [37](#page=37). > **Example:** A person taught that sexuality is "bad except for having a child" may experience conflict between their sexual urges and their moral beliefs, leading to anxiety and potential neurosis if the ego is weakened [36](#page=36). > **Example:** Ali loves Ayşe but sees her with Ahmet. His id wants to beat Ahmet, his superego deems fighting wrong, and his ego is cautious about Ahmet's strength. The conflict between id and superego leaves the ego weak, resulting in Ali beating Ahmet. This increases his anxiety, prompting him to use defense mechanisms like denial ("I did not beat him"), repression ("I don’t remember Ahmet"), intellectualization, displacement, projection, reaction formation, undoing, introjection, regression, and rationalization [37](#page=37) [38](#page=38) [40](#page=40). --- # Psychosexual stages of development Sigmund Freud's theory posits that personality develops through a series of psychosexual stages, where the libido (psychic energy) focuses on different erogenous zones, and the successful navigation of each stage's critical tasks is crucial for healthy personality development [41](#page=41). ### 4.1 Overview of psychosexual development Personality matures through a predictable series of chronological bio-developmental stages. How an individual deals with the challenges of each stage and the quality of parental care significantly shapes their personality. In normal personality development, libidinal energy is optimally distributed, ensuring each part of the personality receives adequate attention. Conversely, abnormal personality development occurs when libidinal energy is distributed out of balance. Each stage is associated with a specific erogenous zone, which is a part of the body that experiences pleasure, particularly when tension is released and libidinal energy becomes available to it. The first three stages are considered foundational for establishing personality. Fixation can occur in any of the first three stages if the critical tasks are not satisfactorily resolved, leading individuals to seek compensation for lost pleasure later in life [41](#page=41) [42](#page=42) [43](#page=43) [45](#page=45) [57](#page=57). ### 4.2 The five psychosexual stages #### 4.2.1 Oral stage (0-18 months) During the oral stage, libido is concentrated in the oral zones, including the mouth, tongue, and lips. Infants explore the world through their mouths, and oral activities such as eating, sucking, and biting provide discharge of tension and bring gratification. The mother's breast serves as the primary object of satisfaction and pleasure. The critical task of this stage is weaning, the process of stopping breast-feeding. Parental care, particularly mother-child interaction, is vital for future mental health. This care should neither be insufficient nor overly indulgent [43](#page=43) [45](#page=45). > **Tip:** Unmet or excessively indulged needs during the oral stage can lead to fixation, where the individual may later seek oral gratification through behaviors like smoking, overeating, or excessive talking. #### 4.2.2 Anal stage (18-36 months) The anal stage sees libido cathecting in the anal zone, making the anus the primary erogenous zone. The discharge of bowel and bladder contents is pleasurable. The critical task during this period is toilet training. As parents introduce potty training, the child experiences discomfort due to the tension of holding urine and feces. Successful navigation of this stage requires appropriate discipline and guidance, meaning toilet training should be neither too strict nor too lax [47](#page=47) [49](#page=49). > **Example:** A child who experiences overly harsh toilet training might develop an "anal-retentive" personality, characterized by orderliness, stinginess, and stubbornness. Conversely, a child with lax training might become "anal-expulsive," exhibiting messiness and destructiveness. #### 4.2.3 Phallic stage (3-5 years) In the phallic stage, the erogenous zone shifts to the genitals. Stimulation of the genitals releases sexual tension and brings pleasure. A key aspect of this stage is the development of normal sexual functioning through appropriate identification with the same-gender parent. The critical task is finding one's sexual identity [50](#page=50). ##### 4.2.3.1 The Oedipal conflict (boys) During the phallic stage, boys experience the Oedipal conflict, desiring their mother as an object of desire and satisfaction. Unconsciously, they fear punishment from their father, leading to castration anxiety – the fear that the father will castrate them [51](#page=51). ##### 4.2.3.2 The Electra conflict (girls) Girls experience the Electra conflict, where they compete with their mother for their father's attention. Upon realizing they lack a penis, they conclude that their forbidden sexual longings have resulted in castration. This leads to penis envy or jealousy. They then blame their mother for lacking a penis and direct anger towards her, while their incestuous urges towards their father make them feel inferior. This inferiority motivates them to attach to their father, as they believe they can never possess a penis. The temporary gratification of having a penis is achieved through intercourse with a male. Their ego represses incestuous feelings, and they identify with and introject their mother's characteristics, believing that by acting like their mother, they can find a male partner like their father. This process displaces feelings toward the father onto other appropriate males, and the anger toward the mother dissolves [54](#page=54) [55](#page=55) [56](#page=56). > **Tip:** The resolution of the Oedipal and Electra conflicts is crucial for developing a healthy superego and gender identity. #### 4.2.4 Latency stage (6-12 years) The latency stage occurs from approximately age six until puberty. During this period, sexual impulses are repressed, and energies are redirected from oral, anal, and phallic activities towards challenges in school, sports, and other external activities [58](#page=58). #### 4.2.5 Genital stage (early adolescence - +) The genital stage begins in early adolescence and continues throughout adulthood. In this stage, libido is directed towards opposite-sex members, and pleasure is found in heterosexual activity. The more libido is focused on the genital stage (meaning less fixation in earlier stages), the better an individual develops skills to form and maintain heterosexual relationships and live a life free of neurosis [59](#page=59). --- # Psychoanalytic techniques and critiques This section summarizes the core therapeutic techniques employed in psychoanalysis and examines the significant criticisms leveled against its classical form. ### 5.1 Psychoanalytic therapeutic techniques Psychoanalysis aims to address psychological distress, characterized by impaired capacity to love and work, experiencing more pain than pleasure, significant interpersonal conflict, or excessive anxiety, depression, or guilt. The therapeutic process heavily relies on understanding and navigating transference and counter-transference [60](#page=60) [61](#page=61). #### 5.1.1 Transference and counter-transference **Transference** is the phenomenon where a patient projects their childhood experiences, impulses, feelings, fantasies, attitudes, conflicts, and defenses onto the current relationship with the therapist. For instance, a patient who feared an abusive parent in childhood might become afraid of the therapist due to this emotional projection [61](#page=61) [62](#page=62). **Counter-transference** refers to the unresolved feelings that the analyst projects onto the patient. An example is a therapist disliking a patient because they transferred a dislike for their own father onto the patient, potentially as a defense against their own unconscious childhood fears [62](#page=62). To manage counter-transference, therapists are advised to seek supervision and develop consciousness over their emotions, analyzing them [62](#page=62). #### 5.1.2 Free association Free association is a cornerstone technique where the patient expresses whatever comes to mind without censorship. The therapist's role is to listen, track these associations, and attempt to analyze the underlying unconscious material [63](#page=63). #### 5.1.3 Dream analysis Dream analysis is considered a pathway to the unconscious mind. The rationale is that during sleep, the ego's defenses are relaxed, making it easier to access unconscious material. The analyst's task is to interpret the hidden meanings behind the dream's imagery [65](#page=65). #### 5.1.4 Understanding symptoms Symptoms in psychoanalytic theory are viewed as symbolic representations of unresolved, unconscious conflicts. They serve to protect vulnerable emotional areas of the patient and defend against psychological pain [67](#page=67). #### 5.1.5 Freudian slips (slips of the tongue) Slips of the tongue, often referred to as Freudian slips, are believed to reveal underlying unconscious material [68](#page=68). #### 5.1.6 The psychoanalytic setting and process During psychoanalysis, therapists remain attentive to defenses, dreams, repression, symptoms, resistance, transference, and counter-transference. The typical setting involves the patient lying on a couch with the therapist usually seated behind them, observing both verbal and nonverbal cues to follow the free associations. Psychoanalysis is generally a long-term process [69](#page=69). #### 5.1.7 Underlying developmental concepts Psychoanalytic theory posits developmental stages influencing psychological structure. These include early unity with the mother, followed by the "mirror stage" around six months, leading to ego formation through identification with an image. During the phallic stage, a perceived shift in maternal attention towards "the father's name" or "the thing" (the phallus) signifies separation, contributing to the unconscious build-up of desire. This desire, when suppressed and repressed, can manifest as symptoms, acting as signifiers of underlying unconscious processes. The presence or absence of the "father's no & name" is theorized to differentiate between psychotic and neurotic states [71](#page=71) [72](#page=72). ### 5.2 Critiques of classical psychoanalysis Classical psychoanalysis has faced significant criticism regarding its theoretical framework and practical application. #### 5.2.1 Lack of empirical validation and scientific rigor A primary critique is that psychoanalysis is so flexible that it can explain anything, rendering its explanations potentially meaningless. It lacks rational rules to govern the therapist's actions, making it difficult to establish objective guidelines. The theory is also criticized for not being scientifically verifiable [73](#page=73). #### 5.2.2 Subjectivity and self-confirmation The highly subjective nature of psychoanalytic interpretation is a significant concern. Critics argue that it can become a self-confirming hypothesis, where any patient disagreement is interpreted as resistance rather than a valid challenge to the therapist's interpretation [73](#page=73) [75](#page=75). #### 5.2.3 Explanatory limitations The inability to account for consistent cause-and-effect is another critique; the same fixation can supposedly lead to different symptoms. Furthermore, psychoanalysis has been accused of neglecting the humanistic and spiritual aspects of an individual's experience [73](#page=73) [75](#page=75). #### 5.2.4 Reliance on pathological cases A notable criticism is that psychoanalytic theories are predominantly based on studies of a limited number of pathological cases, potentially limiting their generalizability to the broader population [75](#page=75). --- ## Common mistakes to avoid - Review all topics thoroughly before exams - Pay attention to formulas and key definitions - Practice with examples provided in each section - Don't memorize without understanding the underlying concepts

| Term | Definition | |------|------------| | Psychodynamics | The theory that personality is formed by the interactions of mental forces and processes, particularly those occurring at different levels of awareness and often in conflict. | | Libido | The psychic energy or motive force that underlies a person's thoughts, perceptions, memory, imagination, sex, and aggression; it fuels the drive for survival and reproduction. | | Cathexis | The process by which libidinal energy attaches to or invests in parts of the personality, objects, or ideas, thereby energizing them and making them objects of desire or concern. | | Consciousness | The state of being aware of one's current thoughts, feelings, and sensations; the material that is immediately present in one's awareness. | | Preconsciousness | The level of awareness containing thoughts, memories, and feelings that are not currently in conscious awareness but can be easily recalled or brought to consciousness. | | Unconsciousness | The deepest level of awareness, containing thoughts, wishes, emotions, memories, and impulses that are not accessible to conscious awareness and cannot be voluntarily retrieved. | | Id | The primitive, instinctual part of the personality that operates entirely unconsciously and is driven by the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of biological needs and desires. | | Ego | The psychological component of personality that develops from the id and operates according to the reality principle, mediating between the id's demands and the constraints of the external world and the superego. | | Superego | The moral component of personality that develops from internalized social norms and parental values, representing the conscience and striving for perfection rather than pleasure or reality. | | Pleasure Principle | The governing principle of the id, which dictates that all desires should be satisfied immediately without regard for consequences or reality. | | Morality Principle | The governing principle of the superego, which dictates that actions should conform to societal and moral standards, aiming for righteousness and avoiding wrongdoing. | | Reality Principle | The governing principle of the ego, which dictates that desires must be satisfied in ways that are realistic and appropriate to the external environment, often involving delay of gratification. | | Defense Mechanisms | Unconscious psychological strategies employed by the ego to protect itself from anxiety and unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses by distorting or denying reality. | | Repression | A defense mechanism where the ego forcefully pushes unwanted or anxiety-producing material out of consciousness, preventing it from being recalled. | | Denial | A defense mechanism where an individual refuses to acknowledge or accept a painful reality or a threat, despite evidence to the contrary. | | Displacement | A defense mechanism where unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses are redirected from their original, threatening target to a less threatening substitute. | | Projection | A defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto someone else, thereby avoiding confronting these undesirable characteristics within themselves. | | Reaction Formation | A defense mechanism where an individual behaves, thinks, or feels in a manner that is the direct opposite of their unacceptable inner impulses or desires. | | Undoing | A defense mechanism where an individual performs an action or expresses a thought that is intended to neutralize or make amends for a previous unacceptable thought or behavior that they regret. | | Introjection | A defense mechanism, often associated with identification, where an individual internalizes the characteristics, beliefs, or values of another person or object, making them a part of their own personality without conscious evaluation. | | Rationalization | A defense mechanism where an individual provides a logical or socially acceptable explanation for behaviors or thoughts that are actually driven by unacceptable motives, thereby justifying them. | | Intellectualization | A defense mechanism that involves detaching emotions from a disturbing thought, memory, or impulse by focusing solely on the intellectual or abstract aspects of the situation. | | Regression | A defense mechanism where an individual reverts to an earlier, less mature level of behavior or functioning when faced with stress or anxiety. | | Sublimation | A defense mechanism where unacceptable thoughts, feelings, wishes, urges, and impulses are channeled into socially acceptable or constructive activities, such as creative endeavors or sports. | | Psychosexual Stages | A series of developmental stages proposed by Freud, each characterized by a specific erogenous zone and critical tasks, through which personality is believed to mature. | | Fixation | A state in psychosexual development where an individual becomes "stuck" at a particular stage due to unresolved conflicts or unmet needs, leading to the persistent exhibition of behaviors associated with that stage in adulthood. | | Oedipal Conflict | A conflict experienced by boys during the phallic stage, involving unconscious desires for their mother and a fear of punishment from their father, leading to castration anxiety. | | Electra Conflict | A conflict experienced by girls during the phallic stage, involving competition with their mother for their father's attention, penis envy, and eventual identification with the mother. | | Latency Stage | The fourth psychosexual stage, characterized by a period of relative sexual quiescence where energy is directed towards social and intellectual pursuits outside of sexual development. | | Genital Stage | The final psychosexual stage, beginning in adolescence, where libido is directed towards mature heterosexual relationships and activities, with successful navigation leading to healthy adult functioning. | | Neurosis | A psychological disorder characterized by impaired capacity to love and work, often manifesting as excessive anxiety, depression, guilt, or interpersonal conflict. | | Psychosis | A severe mental disorder characterized by a significant break from reality, often involving delusions and hallucinations. | | Transference | The process in psychoanalysis where a patient unconsciously redirects feelings, attitudes, and desires from significant figures in their past (especially childhood) onto the therapist. | | Counter-transference | The unresolved feelings and emotional reactions of a therapist towards a patient, which are often influenced by the therapist's own unconscious conflicts and past experiences. | | Free Association | A psychoanalytic technique where patients are encouraged to express whatever thoughts come to mind without censorship, allowing unconscious material to surface. | | Dream Analysis | A psychoanalytic technique used to interpret the symbolic meaning of dreams, believed to provide insights into the unconscious mind when the ego's defenses are relaxed during sleep. | | Symptom | In psychoanalysis, a manifestation of an underlying, unresolved unconscious conflict that serves to protect the vulnerable emotional life of the patient and defend against emotional pain. | | Freudian Slip | An error in speech, memory, or action that is believed to reveal an unconscious thought, feeling, or intention. |