Freud

FREUD CASE STUDY 1 IRENE BRITO PSYCHOLOGY 360 THEORIES OF PERSONALITY 1. According to the Freud theory, Hank possesses an oral personality. Hank tries to regulate his anxieties by using his mouth. In social situations, such as his dates with Sally he was quite sarcastic and made offensive comments. Hank also often chews on his fingernails when he is nervous. When anxious, he always keeps something in his mouth, food or cigarettes. Hank seems to be fixated at the oral incorporative stage; he is excessively concerned with oral activities such as eating and smoking. This fixation could have been caused by his mother. She handed him a cookie or a bottle every time he would cry as a baby. As an adult, to reduce his tension Hank he uses food and cigarettes. His mother is responsible for over gratifying his urge to satisfy stimulation of the mouth. As a baby he was overindulged as an adult he also seeks to depend pn others to satisfy his needs. He claims he needs a woman to love him, so that all his problems will be solved. He also demonstrates personality traits of someone who is fixated at the oral aggressive stage. He is argumentative and sarcastic, makes biting remarks and displays cruelty toward others. His verbal outbursts were the norm, engaged in aggressive behavior on dates, work, and daily life. 2. Freudian’s theory will describe Hank’s eating and argumentative behaviors as being internally motivated. Although he is conscious of his weight problem and seeks help to improve his health, he is not aware that it is his loud mouth that alienates him from his peers. He is very outspoken and has trouble establishing relationships. His unconscious plays a huge role in his personality. His verbal outbursts may be calling out for attention, attention that he seeks from other people. He thought that by becoming good in computers he would be able to form relationships with others. He doesn’t realize that his profession is not the problem; it is his attitude and loud opinioned mouth. Freud theory of instincts will describe Hank’s eating behavior as internal. Freud claimed that the stimuli for hunger is internal. This instinct is the driving force that motivates Hank to satisfy his need by looking for food. The aim of an instinct is to satisfy need and reducing tension. 3. When Sally no longer wants to date him, to make himself feel better, he tells himself, she is a shallow person. He also makes remarks to others that he was going to break up with her anyway. He uses the defense mechanism of rationalization. The purpose of rationalization is to make our behavior more acceptable to us. It was easier to blame the break up on her and point out her flaws, than to accept his behavior as the cause of the break up. It is less threatening to the ego to blame others for our failure than to blame ourselves. 4. In order to preserve peace Hank’s mother fed him, now as he is older he continues to carry out the habit. The pint of ice cream he eats and the cigarrete he lights up to reduce his tension, is an example of regression. Hank feels secure and at peace when eating, just like his mother made him feel while she fed him as a baby. As a baby he became dependent on his mother, she over satisfied the pleasurable stimulation of the mouth. This made him feel secured and safe, now he seeks the same feeling in food. He has not been able to establish long term relationships; therefore, he will seek comfort and security where he has always found it. 5. A Freudian therapist would view Hank’s problem as a symptom of another problem. Hank seeks approval from others, and more from a woman. He claims that by having a woman fall in love with him, he will no longer be lonely, he would lose weight and all his troubles would be gone. He became over dependent on his mother, now he feels the need to have a woman by his side to feel complete. His trouble is not being overweight. His real problem is the way he tries to reduce his anxieties, by eating. 6. A therapy technique that would most likely be used is free association. By breaking down repressed material (unconscious) material, therapist will be able to guide Hank into resolving unconscious behavior. Freud believed that the unconscious was the major motivating force in life. Freud therapy would heal by overcoming resistances and confronting the expressed experienced. Hank must confront his unconscious so that he can change those behaviors that are affecting his social life. Behaviors such as seeking security in food and bot being able to hold long term relationships with peers.