SNHU Belief Regarding Freuds Psychoanalytical Theory Responses

Respond to at least two colleagues:

• Compare your response with your colleague’s. Identify any insights you gained from your peer’s response.
• Discuss whether or how to address values related to the development and use of a specific theory when working with clients.

Colleague 1: Siani

Psychoanalytical Theory

Summarize the Assumptions

The outcome of human behavior consist of experiences and emotions that contain three parts of the mind: the id, ego, and superego. All in which are different phases of out lives.

Explain your Belief

I don’t fully believe that it is appropriate to apply psychoanalytic theory to women and individuals from racial and ethic minority groups. I strongly believe that human behavior is broken down into three parts of the mind: id, ego, and superego. However, I do not agree with Freud’s reasoning behind his theory. For an example, the text states “We believe that when a male therapist falls into prejudices against women, allowing these to hinder his handling of the therapy, his mistaken behavior should be labeled countertransference. It is equally an instance of countertransference when a female therapist consciously or unconsciously allies herself with her female client’s complaints about bigotry on the basis of gender and, responding to these complaints, sympathizes with her rather than analyzing these verbalizations or considering them a part of the client’s free associations”. (Auld, 2005, pp. 236) In other words this is statement pretty much expresses that an entanglement could occur between the therapist and the client. This is ethically inappropriate. On the other hand, when applying this theory to women and individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, I feel that it is necessary to use. It allows the client to feel as though they have full control of their thoughts and provides the clinician with a better understanding of the underlying problem.

Auld, F., Hyman, M., & Rudzinski, D. (2005). How is therapy with women different? In Resolution and inner conflict: An introduction to psychoanalytic therapy (pp. 217–236). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

Social Work Ethics and Values

I do not feel that psychoanalytic theory is consistent with social work values and social work ethics. As I mentioned above, the reasoning and Freud’s findings plays apart as to why I disagree with Freud. (the females and male comparisons at the beginning of the journal article) I feel that it singles out the clients according to the client’s sexual orientation and its aim towards women.

National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of…

Colleague 2: Kelly

• Summarize the assumptions of Freud’s psychoanalytical theory in 2 to 3 sentences.

Psychoanalytical theory looks at a person’s mind because the unconscious explains human behavior. The id, ego and superego are aspects of the mind and makes up a person’s personality.

• Explain whether you believe it is appropriate to apply psychoanalytic theory to women and individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups.

I believe that it is appropriate to apply Freud’s psychoanalytical theory to women and people from racial and ethnic minority groups. However, the therapist must be very careful not to further cause any oppression. The therapist must be well trained and be culturally competent. The therapist must be able to recognize historical trauma, neglect of sociocultural issues, indigenous cultural narratives and the role of context in the use of language and expression of affect. The therapist can influence the experience of social oppression, stereotypes on the therapeutic process and outcomes, and the dynamic nature of cultural identifications.

• Explain whether you believe psychoanalytic theory is consistent with social work values and social work ethics.

When working with psychoanalytic theory, the social worker must retain their core identity. It is important for them to integrate and balance the diverse aspect of their dual identity, to participate in social work organizations, to contribute to the developing of psychoanalytical theory and to work to keep the teaching of contemporary psychoanalytical theories alive in social work education.

• Auld, F., Hyman, M., & Rudzinski, D. (2005). How is therapy with women different? In Resolution and inner conflict: An introduction to psychoanalytic therapy (pp. 217–236). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
• National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of…