The 9 types of Psychoanalysis (theories and main authors)

Psychoanalysis It is probably one of the most well-known paradigms and currents of thought in the field of psychology by the general population.

Types of psychoanalysis, and their differences

Focused on the presence of unconscious conflicts and the repression of instinct, It is one of the most controversial theories that try to explain, among other things, why we are who we are, we think as we think and act as we act.

When we speak of psychoanalysis we generally think of its founder Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalytic theory, but there is a great variety of theories that derived from it and ended up constituting different types of psychoanalysis.

1. Freudian psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is not only a set of psychological theories, but it also supposes a method of investigation and a mode and technique of psychotherapeutic treatment.

Psychoanalytic theory has its origin in the figure of Sigmund Freud, a Viennese doctor specialized in neurology who lived during the Victorian era and who throughout his career developed various theories and explanatory models regarding the structure of the personality, human development and psychopathology.

Unconscious

Freudian psychoanalysis and later all types of psychoanalysis or psychodynamic theories have been characterized by dividing the psyche in three fundamental aspects, conscious, preconscious and unconscious, of which they have focused mainly on the study of the latest. The unconscious is the most determining part of the psyche, collecting the most primitive and instinctual desires, impulses and sensations that we develop since childhood and be governed by the pleasure principle.

Ello, me and superego

In addition, in this theory the psychic apparatus is configured by three main elements, called it, me and superego. While the id is the instinctive and impulsive part that dictates what we want and that usually acts at an unconscious level, The superego is the part of our psyche that observes the morality of behavior and seeks that it is located in a way responsable. Finally, the ego would be in charge of making the wishes of the id fall within what the superego finds acceptable, using various defense mechanisms to mediate between wishes and reality.

Drives

For Freud, the main motor of behavior and psychic life is the libidinal or sexual drive. These instincts are repressed by the conscience based on the censorship caused by the superego on the id, which makes the ego look for mechanisms to repress or sublimate desires. These defense mechanisms may not be efficient enough when it comes to resolving internal conflicts, and may generate various disorders.

In addition to all of the above, Freud establishes a model of development based on the libidinal impulse, his genetic model of the psychosexual development. In it, the individual will go through the oral, anal, phallic, latent and genital phases, overcoming different complexes and anxieties until they achieve full psychosexual development and maturation. It is possible that regressions are suffered that would translate into different behaviors and pathologies.

Psychopathologies

Psychic problems are a symptom of the existence of unconscious conflicts, which are generally due to repressed traumas or unresolved problems, appearing because defense mechanisms have not been able to reduce the tension generated by these conflicts.

Therapy

Regarding psychotherapeutic treatment, the Freudian approach places special emphasis on the relationship between professional and therapist, called the therapeutic relationship. Given the importance given to sexual needs when explaining behavior, Freud considered that its repression and not satisfaction could cause that part of the libido is directed towards the therapist, transferring the blocked emotions to the figure of the professional as a way of reliving the events repressed. The projection mechanism is used for this.

Analyzing said transfers, according to this theory, will allow the patient to discover the repressed elements and existing blockages, being able to improve the patient's condition. Likewise, the therapist's reactions to the patient's disclosures or disclosures are also taken into account. countertransference, which can allow interpreting what is unconsciously expressed by the individual treaty. This last aspect has to be very controlled so that the therapeutic relationship is not contaminated.

2. Continuing with Freudian Theory: The Psychoanalytic Tradition of the Self

A large number of Freud's disciples considered his theories to be correct and true, maintaining a certain continuity with the founder of the discipline in the development of psychoanalysis. However, That they accepted the theories of the father of psychoanalysis does not imply that they did not develop new perspectives and types of psychoanalysis., delving into them and expanding into new areas.

In this sense, the psychoanalytic tradition of the self is characterized by expanding its scope of action, applying it to children and other severe disorders. More emphasis would be placed on the Self, and the focus would be on interpersonal relationships. There would also be some differences with Freudian psychoanalysis, such as greater directivity and activity on the part of the professional and a closer approach to the real, and social. An increase in the adaptability of the individual was sought and the decision-making capacity of the individual was valued.

Although multiple authors can be registered within this tradition, such as Anna Freud she who delved greatly into the different defense mechanisms that we employ, in general the components of the psychoanalytic tradition of the self would accept most concepts and theories Freudian. Some of the authors who had the most significant contributions are the following.

Winnicott

Winnicott's contributions focused on the role of transitional objects and phenomena and the role of the mother and the mother-child bond in human development. This author considered that mental problems are due to failures in the provision of stimulation during childhood.

As the child develops, he establishes relationships with the environment and the different beings that surround him. Initially they establish a series of behaviors or connections with objects (transitional) that make anxiety more tolerable, while also allowing me to begin to differentiate between self and he not me.

The role of the mother in development is fundamental, the maternal concern being captured by the child and giving him security and acting as an auxiliary self until the child manages to develop his own self. The child will go through several phases of dependency until he can be autonomous.

In cases in which therapy is necessary, the therapist has to act as a transitional object that allows to favor and complete the development through transference and countertransference.

3. Melanie Klein's Object Relations Theory

Melanie Klein's work in child psychoanalysis is widely known. Focused mainly on the practical rather than the theoretical aspect, this author is considered the founder of the theory of object relations, according to which the individual relates to the environment based on the type of links established between the subject and object.

Unconscious fantasy

One of the most important types of psychoanalysis focused on the development of children, a very important concept for the author is the unconscious fantasy, understood as that expression of desires and instincts that exist from the beginning of life. These fantasies are the ones that direct the child's behavior and allow us to understand her attitude and way of acting.

When assessing and treating children, the use of symbolic play is especially important as an element to extract information from children. given that free association cannot be applied due to not having enough resources and maturity to do so. However, in the game the unconscious fantasies that direct the behavior are projected, in a way analogous to what would be done through free association. In addition, the interpretation of the meaning of the game can serve to modify the anguish of the infant.

Regarding the way of attaching oneself to objects, he establishes two positions: The first is the paranoid-schizoid position in the the individual is not able to distinguish between the self and the non-self and therefore it is not capable of integrating that the same object can be sometimes rewarding and sometimes be absent or painful, so that each object is divided in two (one good and the other bad). You have a specific and partial thought.

The second is the depressive position, in which objects begin to be seen as a whole, sometimes good and sometimes bad, and with which comes the fear of losing the loved object.

In object relationships the life drive would be seen through gratitude, while that of death through envy and jealousy. This is especially important for the resolution of the Oedipus conflict.

It also indicates that the Ego has four basic functions, to experience and fight the anxiety caused by the death instinct, the establishment of object relations, the integration and synthesis of the self and the acquisition and emission through introjection and projection of attitudes and external characteristics or internal.

4. Neo-Freudian tradition: divergences with Freudian psychoanalysis

Freud's theories initially attracted numerous scholars who would be trained in the complexities of the human mind under the school of psychoanalysis.

However, in many cases important differences would end up emerging in the way of conceiving various aspects of the psyche. For example, many authors opposed the concept of the death drive. Others also had a greater interest in the conscious aspects of the person. The identification of the sexual as the main motor of behavior and development would also be widely discussed, considering it something secondary in determining behavior. Furthermore, Freudian psychoanalysis does not deepen or give excessive value to social and cultural, as well as the current situation of the patient, being this derived mostly from trauma children.

For this reason, many authors ended up abandoning classical psychoanalysis and establishing their own lines of thought, emerging new types of psychoanalysis. Some of the most prominent authors are as follows.

5. Jungian analytical psychology

Carl Gustav Jung He was one of Freud's disciples who, although he started his career with the father of psychoanalysis, would end up disagreeing in multiple aspects with him, separating from his school and elaborating what would be called analytical psychology or deep. For Jung, although libido was present in the human being, this was only a secondary part of his being and not his main motor.

It is one of the most well-known types of psychoanalysis, with energy being psychic energy the main engine of human performance. This energy is expressed in thinking, feeling, intuiting and perceiving.

Two types of unconscious

Another of the main differences is that analytical psychology considers the existence of two types of unconscious: an individual one in which the repressed experiences can be found and another collective from which the knowledge and knowledge of the ancestors is partly inherited. In the first, complexes derived from childhood trauma can be generated, always existing in the individual a part of who we are conscious and show the world, the person, and a part called shadow in which our instinctive and unconscious side is censored and hidden to the world.

Collective unconscious

With regard to the collective unconscious, based on it, one can see the existence of various archetypes or universal and shared psychic expressions that act in a different way. autonomous in the face of external events and that are expressed in different ways in our lives, allowing us to relate our self with the environment to the end of the process of individuation.

Personality

Personality is forged from basic processes, mainly in the development of relationships between subject and object at the time that will determine our level of introversion or extraversion, in the rational capacity with regard to the ability to reflect or feel and irrational processes when it comes to establishing whether we are more sensory or intuitive.

Deep psychology attaches great importance to the symbolic and spirituall, working largely through the artistic and spontaneous expressions of the unconscious. That is why the analysis of dreams is of great importance, which have a compensatory and clarifying function of consciousness.

The ultimate goal of treatment in this type of psychoanalysis is to achieve the correct development of selfhood or individuation, from a collaborative relationship between patient and therapist.

6. Adler's individual psychology

As would happen with Jung, Adler would consider that Freud's theory placed too much importance on the sexual realm. In addition, unlike Freud, he considers that although the unconscious and the past are important, the human being is by himself an active being with the ability to create and decide in the present, not being determined by his past.

Here and now

This type of psychoanalysis focuses more on the here and now, with the conscious self having a great importance in the thought of Adler and the individual being aware of his possibilities and limitations. It is because of that would end up separating from traditional psychoanalysis and establishing individual psychology.

Feeling of inferiority

For this author, problems arise from the understanding that their own desires are beyond the reach of the individual, giving rise to the feeling of inferiority. Thus, individual psychology is based on the lust for power as a way of trying to compensate for feelings of inferiority. The human being tends to seek the feeling of belonging to the community.

For this author it is necessary to treat the individual holistically, having great importance his beliefs and concepts of himself and the world. It works from the change in the lifestyle trying to make conscious a vital guideline that, changing the orientation towards life events, the individual wants to follow and strengthen it through self-confidence.

7. Sullivan's Interpersonal Psychoanalysis

It is one of the types of psychoanalysis most focused on the relationship between people, placing the focus of interest on the ability to establish interpersonal relationships and communication. The interpersonal comes to assume and provoke the intrapsychic, understanding these relationships as the main driver and modifier of behavior.

Under interpersonal psychoanalysis, personality is and is due to the stable pattern of interpersonal situations that characterize the human being. This pattern is made up of dynamisms, personifications, and a system of the self made from experience.

Dynamisms and needs

Dynamisms are perpetuated ways over time in which the individual transforms his energy, directing it to the attempt to satisfy a need., be it self-satisfaction or security (understood as anxiety relief). These dynamisms reduce the tension produced by the presence of a need, but if they are not effective they will generate anxiety that will lead to destructive behaviors.

Personifications are the way we interpret the interpersonal, the reactions and attitudes of others. These are schemes made from repeated experience with others that will be fixed to our internal structure, forming part of our personality.

As for the ego system, it is a personality system elaborated through life experiences and which aims to protect our self-esteem by satisfying the people we love.

• Related article: "Harry Stack Sullivan's Interpersonal Theory"

Symbol

With all this, it is possible to observe that the main emphasis of this type of psychoanalysis is on the use of the symbol as a communicative element and in the expression of mental and physical content.

For Sullivan, the events we experience are internally processed in different ways as we grow. The first of these would be the prototaxic, typical of newborns, in which the environment is felt as something undifferentiated over which we have no control. Later we would see the world in a parataxic way, being able to make associations between elements of the environment and predictions as we acquire experience and symbolic capacity. Finally, as adults and in the case of achieving a correct development we would come to experience the world in a way syntactic, being able to share symbols correctly and actively and basing action on logic and adaptation to context.

Psychopathology

Psychological problems such as mental disorders are for this type of psychoanalysis product of maladaptive relational patterns or maladjusted dynamisms, having to be treated taking into account therapy as a type of interpersonal relationship that must provide security while facilitates changes that make personal relationships more adaptive and in which the patient expresses himself in an adaptive way and free of inhibitions.

8. Fromm's humanistic psychoanalysis

Traditional psychoanalysis is primarily based on the power of the unconscious over the behavior of the individual, trying and focusing on the existence of conflicts and thought processes pathological. Erich frommHowever, he believed that to understand the human mind it is necessary to know how we find meaning in our lives, exploring the positive and motivational side of the psyche.

It is one of the types of psychoanalysis with a more humanistic approach. and linked to positive elements without rejecting the importance of human pain.

However, another characteristic of Erich Fromm's psychoanalytic perspective is that it incorporates an important social component in his ideas, and does not focus so much on individuals.

Affection and love

For this author, the human being is capable of coping with pain from the granting of a meaning or meaning both to it and to life itself. Fromm considered that interpersonal problems are the main source of discomfort, in a struggle between our personal desires and goals and the desire to bond with others. For humanistic psychoanalysis, to overcome discomfort it is necessary to develop affection, acceptance of the other and love.

The main objective of Fromm's humanistic psychoanalysis is based not on the treatment and avoidance of suffering, but on the pursuit of happiness and empowerment of own strengths and strengths through goal setting vital.

9. Returning to the origin: Lacan's psychoanalysis

Regardless of whether they followed Freud or ended up diverging with him, most theories post-classical psychoanalysis represented significant advances in different areas of the knowledge.

However, one of the post-Freudian types of psychoanalysis is in favor of returning to a classical and closer to the initial one, the rest having moved excessively away from the fundamental pillars of the paradigm. It is about the approach of Jacques lacan.

Pleasure, suffering and tension

The contributions of this author go through the distinction between the concepts of pleasure as an activity aimed at avoiding suffering or reduce tension and enjoyment as a pleasant element linked to increasing said tension, unconsciously enjoying what it would generate us discomfort. Recovers the concept of the death drive (introducing it into the idea of ​​jouissance).

It reinterprets the psychic structure in real, imaginary and symbolic. The real would be what we do not know and that we are not able to express with language, the imaginary would be what is represented in dreams and fantasies, and the symbolic all that is born of consciousness and in which we use codes such as the word, forming the superego and structuring The I.

A) Yes, the language is of great importance, allowing to unite the speech of the unconscious with the conscious. He also proposes that the truth, as something real, is not bearable for the self, being only possible to know a part of it as it is restricted by the symbolic.

Bibliographic references:

• Almendro, M.T. (2012). Psychotherapies. CEDE PIR Preparation Manual, 06. CEDE: Madrid