Central to Freudian theory is the unconscious, and central to Freudian research and therapy is access to the unconscious. Discuss how Freud believed he gained access to this vital material

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: For Freud, it was theoretically possible to access information from the unconscious. Unconscious information naturally leaked into consciousness in everyday behavior and at night when vigilance is relaxed. A number of methods produce a state of mind that facilitates this communication. Examples are hypnosis, free association, dreams, Freudian slips, humor, and symbolic behavior. (It would not be expected that the student would address all of these; one or two clear examples would suffice.) In his early work Freud used hypnosis in an attempt to access normally unconscious material. He abandoned hypnosis and developed the technique of free association in which a patient relaxes and freely verbalizes thoughts, feelings, and impressions that drift into consciousness. In theory some of this material is from the unconscious and can be understood with the help of the psychoanalyst.

Psychology

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