A General Introduction To Psychoanalysis

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Presents twenty-eight lectures in which Sigmund Freud sets forth with a frankness almost startling the difficulties and limitations of psychoanalysis, and also describes its main methods and results as only a master and originator of a new school of thought can do. (PsycINFO Database Record).

"A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" is a seminal work written by Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis. Originally published in 1920 as "Vorlesungen zur Einführung in die Psychoanalyse" in German, it serves as an overview of Freud's psychoanalytic theories and concepts. In this book, Freud provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles of psychoanalysis, discussing topics such as the unconscious mind, the structure of the psyche (id, ego, and superego), dream interpretation, and the mechanisms of defense. Freud's psychoanalytic approach revolutionized the understanding of human behavior and influenced various fields, including psychology, psychiatry, and literature. "A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" remains an important text for those interested in the foundations of psychoanalysis and Freudian theory. It has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be studied and referenced in the fields of psychology and mental health.

Electronic Inspection Copy available here "The best simply got better. The first edition of this book was already quite simply the best introduction to psychoanalysis ever written and has been appropriately extremely popular with teachers and students alike. The thoroughly updated second edition retains all the powerful features of the first including its remarkable clarity and accessibility. The field will be greatly indebted to these authors for many years." - Professor Peter Fonagy, University College London A Short Introduction to Psychoanalysis offers a user-friendly introduction to arguably the most misunderstood of all the psychological therapies. This fully updated and revised second edition explains what psychoanalysis really is and provides the reader with an overview of its basic concepts, historical development, critiques and research base. Demonstrating the far reaching influence of psychoanalysis, the authors - all practicing psychoanalysts - describe how its concepts have been applied beyond the consulting room and examine its place within the spectrum of other psychological theories. The text is enlivened by numerous clinical examples. New to this edition, the book o discusses parent infant psychotherapy and mentalization-based therapy (MBT) o further investigates psychotherapy in the NHS and the IAPT programme, with more on the debate between CBT and analytic approaches o includes more on dreaming and attachment theory, with added examples o includes new research studies and addresses the new field of psychosocial studies. This down-to-earth guide provides the ideal `way-in' to the subject for new trainees. For anyone thinking of becoming a psychoanalyst, the book also provides information on the training process and the structure of the profession.

Since its inception, psychoanalysis has been hailed as a revolutionary theory of how the mind works, whilst some of its ideas such as the Oedipus complex have become part of everyday conversation. In Psychoanalysis: A Very Short Introduction, Daniel Pick offers a lucid, lively, and wide-ranging survey of psychoanalysis. This book offers the reader a flavour of what it might be like to enter treatment, and suggests the possible surprises that can await both analyst and patient, as well as the potential benefits. Yet whilst Freud's writings have shaped the way many of us understand dreams, desires, and destructiveness, as well as anxieties, blunders, and guilt, numerous critics have warned of the dangerous methods and time-bound assumptions of psychoanalysis, doubted the efficacy of its drawn-out methods, and dismissed its core claims as pseudo-science. Looking at modern ideas of the self, exploring the nature of unconscious aspects of relationships, and considering how psychoanalysis has evolved, Pick ponders the particular challenges now facing the analytic profession, and shows why psychoanalysis remains an important resource for investigating the mind, its creative functioning and many afflictions. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Freud's excellent lectures introducing the key pillars of psychoanalytic practice and theory are presented here complete. First given between 1915 and 1917, the lectures within this edition explain in detail the theories pioneered by Freud. Delivered in the later part of his career, these lectures can be considered a retrospective summary of the ideas which revolutionised psychology in the early 20th century. It is here that the fully-formed ideas are expressed clearly, with the added benefit of the experiences Freud had in employing his methods to treat sufferers of mental illness or neuroses. Various aspects of Freudian theory are laid bare in Freud's own words, with the lectures organised into three distinct parts: Part One, entitled 'The Psychology of Errors', attempts to explain the nature of the psychological treatment given to the patient. Consisting of four lectures, it is Freud's own attempt to demystify and clarify the aims behind the treatment of the sufferer in the throes of mental ill health. He also advances the notion that the everyday, non-psychologist can benefit from the knowledge, in that it may provide a measure of introspective enlightenment. Part Two, 'The Dream', embarks on a thorough explanation of the dream theory which formed a central pillar of Freudian treatment of patients. The various types of dream, the time of their occurrence, and how memorable and poignant they appear to the patient, are identified as factors in treatment. Dreams are interpreted as signifying the desires and fears of the patient, with significant dream events seen as containing intense symbolism. Part Three, 'General Theory of the Neuroses', concerns the means by which individual mental problems are identified and treated. Many of the Freudian theories on sexual desire are alluded to here, being as Freud attributed much mental distress to an inadequate or poorly developed libido. Aspects such as unconscious or subconscious mind, and the methods of psychoanalytic therapy are likewise explained in-depth. The translation of the lectures to English was accomplished by Freud's contemporary G. Stanley Hall. Since first appearing in 1920, this rendition of the lectures has been praised for accurately relaying the concepts, theory and practices behind Freudian psychoanalysis. This edition also contains an introductory preface by Hall, who explains the intellectual context and rival theories present in the-then fledgling scientific discipline of psychology.

Though it has now fallen out of favor among many practitioners and scholars, Freud's concept of psychoanalysis -- an approach that focuses primarily on adverse events in early childhood and irrational drives that are overcome via extended talk therapy -- was and continues to be enormously influential, not only in the realm of psychology, but also in the larger culture. This volume offers a comprehensive overview of psychoanalysis from the point of view of the field's creator.

The need for a concise, comprehensive guide to the main principles and practice of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy has become pressing as the psychoanalytic movement has expanded and diversified. An introductory text suitable for a wide range of courses, this lively, widely referenced account presents the core features of contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice in an easily assimilated, but thought-provoking manner. Illustrated throughout with clinical examples, it provides an up-to-date source of reference for a wider range of mental health professionals as well as those training in psychoanalysis, psychotherapy or counselling.