The 7 main psychodynamic theories

From the ideas proposed by Sigmund Freud came other conceptions of the human mind.

If we think of psychotherapy, the image that probably comes to mind is that of an individual lying on a couch explaining his problems to a psychologist sitting behind him while the psychologist takes notes and asks him questions. However, this image does not necessarily correspond to reality: there are many schools and currents of thought in psychology, some of which are more appropriate than others, depending on the type of psychologist.Some are more appropriate than others, depending on the specific case being treated.

One of the first major currents of thought to emerge was Freud's psychoanalysis. But Freud's students and those followers who decided to break with him due to discrepancies in some elements of his theory also continued to generate content and add new theories and aspects to psychoanalytic therapy. These are the so-called psychodynamic approaches. And with them, different therapies emerged. In this article we will look at the main psychodynamic models and theories..

Psychodynamic theories

The concept of psychodynamic theory may seem unique and unitary, but the truth is that it includes a large number of ways of understanding the human mind. When we speak of psychodynamic theories, we are talking about a heterogeneous set of perspectives that have their origin in conceptions of the human mind. have their origin in conceptions of mental processes derived from psychoanalysis and psychoanalysis..

In this sense, all of them share with Freudian theory the idea that there are intrapsychodynamic conflicts. the idea that there are intrapsychic conflicts between the conscious and the unconscious.One of the main objectives of therapy is to contribute to making the patient capable of understanding and managing the unconscious content (bringing it to consciousness).

In addition, psychodynamic theories also consider the existence of strategies and defense mechanisms used by the psyche to minimize the suffering generated by such conflicts, and agree that the psychic structure and personality are formed during childhood from the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of needs. The infantile experience is very relevant for this currentas well as the interpretation of these experiences and transference. They also consider that the interaction with the therapist will make the patient relive repressed experiences and representations, turning to the professional.

These psychodynamic models and theories differ from psychoanalysis, among other things, in the following ways are more focused on the reason for consultation identified by the patient and not on a complete restructuring of the personality. Therapies are not as long and are more spaced out, as well as being open to a large number of disorders and mental problems and not only neurosis and hysteria. There are other differences, but these will depend largely on the specific psychodynamic model observed.

Some of the main therapies and models

As we have mentioned there are multiple psychodynamic theories and therapies. The following are some of the best known.

Adler's individual psychology

One of the main neo-Freudian models is that of Adler, one of the authors who separated from Freud due to multiple discrepancies with some aspects of Freud's psychoanalytic theory. with some aspects of psychoanalytic theory.

This author considered that libido was not the main driving force of the psyche, but rather the search for acceptance and belonging, which will generate anxieties that, if not satisfied, will provoke feelings of inferiority. Also considered the human being as a unitary being, understandable at a holistic level, who is not a passive being.He also considered the human being as a unitary being, understandable at a holistic level, who is not a passive being but has the capacity to choose. This author considers lifestyle as one of the most relevant aspects to work on, together with the desire for power derived from the feeling of inferiority and the objectives and goals of the subject.

His psychotherapy is understood as a process that seeks to confront and change the subject's way of facing life tasks, trying to make explicit the guideline of the subject's actions in order to favor self-efficacy and self-confidence.

From this psychodynamic theory, it is proposed in the first place the establishment of a relationship of trust and recognition between therapist and patient, trying to bring the goals of both closer to the patient's recovery.The therapist and the patient are brought closer to each other in order to achieve the recovery of the latter. Subsequently, the problems in question are explored and the observation of the patient's strengths and competencies that he/she will end up using to solve them is encouraged.

The lifestyle and the decisions taken are analyzed, after which the focus is shifted to working on the subject's beliefs, goals and vital objectives in order for the subject to achieve self-understanding of his or her own internal logic. Finally, we work together with the patient on the elaboration of habits and behaviors that allow the reorientation of the behavior towards the tasks and objectives of the subject.

Jung's analytical theory

Jung's model is another of the main neo-Freudian models, being one of Freud's followers who decided to break with him due to several discrepancies. This model works with aspects such as dreams, artistic expressions, complexes (unconscious organizations of unrecognized emotional experiences) and archetypes (inherited images that make up our collective unconscious).

The aim of this therapy is to achieve the development of an integrated identity, trying to help the subject to take into account what Jung interpreted as unconscious forces.. First of all, the subject is confronted with his person (the part of himself that he recognizes as his own and that he expresses to the outside world) and with his shadow (the part of our being that we do not express and that we tend to project on others), trying to achieve this through the treatment.

After that, the archetypes of anima and animus, the archetypes that represent the feminine and masculine and how they work and are projected in social relations. Subsequently third stage, the archetypes corresponding to wisdom and synchronicity with the universe are corresponding to wisdom and synchronicity with the universe through the analysis of dreams and artistic elaborations (which are analyzed, among other methods, through the use of association in particular elements of dreams). It works collaboratively with the patient and attempts to integrate the different facets of the self.

Sullivan's interpersonal perspective

Sullivan considered that the main element that explains our psychic structure is the interpersonal relationships. and how these are lived, shaping our personality based on personifications (ways of interpreting the world), dynamisms (energies and needs) and the elaboration of a system of self.

At the therapy level, this is understood as a form of interpersonal relationship that provides security and facilitates learning. It should generate changes in the person and situation, with the therapist working in an active and directive manner without increasing the subject's distress.

It is mainly proposed to work on the basis of obtaining information and correcting erroneous information, modifying dysfunctional evaluation systems, working on the subject's personal distance from people and situations, correcting phenomena such as the fact of interacting with others believing that they will relate to us in the same way as previous significant others, seeking and reintegrating the patient's inhibited elements and making the patient capable of communicating and expressing logical thoughts and the search for satisfaction while reducing the need for security and experiential avoidance.

Object relations theory

Melanie Klein is perhaps one of the major figures of the ego psychoanalytic tradition.She is one of Freud's followers who followed his theoretical line by adding new contents and fields of study. In his case, the study and focus on children.

One of his most relevant theories is the theory of object relations, which proposes that individuals relate to the environment according to the link we make between subject and object, being especially relevant the unconscious fantasy generated by the object when explaining behavior.

When working with children, special importance is given to symbolic play as a method to work on and externalize as a method to work and externalize the unconscious fantasies, to later try to clarify the anxieties that derive from them and introduce modifications through play as well as other ways such as creative visualization, narrative, drawing, dance or role playing.

Other more recent psychodynamic theories

There are many approaches, models and theories that have been developed throughout history from the psychodynamic approach. In addition to the above there are some relatively recent psychodynamic therapies and theories, very focused on the practice and day-to-day therapy, and not so much on systematic explanations of the structure of mental processes.

Theory of brief dynamic psychotherapy

This perspective is based on the idea that therapeutic work should focus on a specific area that generates the greatest difficulties and which best explains the patient's specific problem. Its main characteristics are its brevity and the high level of definition of the element to be worked on and the objectives to be achieved.

In addition to this is also common a high level of directivity of the therapist and the expression of optimism with respect to the patient's and the expression of optimism regarding the patient's improvement. The aim is to attack the resistances in order to subsequently work on the anxiety generated by the attack and then make conscious the feelings that have generated these defenses and discomfort.

Within this type of psychotherapy we can find different techniques, such as brief psychotherapy with provocation of distress or deactivation of the unconscious.

Transference-based therapy

Proposed by Kernberg, this is a type of therapy of great importance in the treatment of subjects with personality disorders such as borderline. The theory behind it is based on the object relations theory to propose a model in which there is a focus on both the internal and external world of the patient and which is centered on working on the basis of the transference of internal difficulties to the therapist. In people with severe personality disorders, the experience of frustration and the inability to regulate it is the main factor, so that finally the psyche becomes split in such a way that there is a diffusion of identity.

It seeks to promote the integration of the mental structures of patients, reorganizing them and seeking to generate modifications that allow a stable mental functioning in which subjective experience, perception and behavior go hand in hand. The context, the therapeutic relationship and the analysis of object relations are fundamental.The context, the therapeutic relationship and the analysis of object relations are fundamental, analyzing the feelings generated by the relationship with them (including the therapeutic relationship) and the unconscious fantasy that generates this relationship, helping to understand them.

Mentalization-based therapy

Bateman and Fonagy developed a model and a type of therapy based on the concept of mentalization. It is understood as the ability to interpret one's own and others' actions and reactions based on the existence of emotions and thoughts, recognizing these as a mental state. and other people's actions and reactions based on the existence of emotions and thoughts, recognizing these as a mental state.

With great influence and based largely on Bowlby's attachment theory, it attempts to explain mental disorder (especially borderline personality disorder) as a consequence of the difficulty in attributing mental states to what they do or feel. The therapy linked to this model seeks congruence, favoring the connection between feeling and thinking, develop the ability to mentalize and try to understand one's own emotions and those of others, in turn improving interpersonal relationships.

Bibliographical references:

• Almendro, M.T. (2012). Psychotherapies. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR, 06. CEDE: Madrid.
• Bateman, A. W., & Fonagy, P. (2004). Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: Mentalization Based Treatment. Oxford: Oxford University Press.