Comments on: Episode #5: In Defense of Defense Mechanisms http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/ Psychology podcast and resources for students and educators Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:27:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bob Herrmann-Keeling http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/comment-page-1/#comment-2253 Bob Herrmann-Keeling Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:50:14 +0000 http://www.thepsychFiles.com/?p=29#comment-2253 C.J. -- You say you "have a lot of anxiety." It's an interesting way to put it, that you possess (or are possessed by) negative thoughts by which you trouble yourself. This is called "psycholoogy of possession." Dr. Alfred Adler contrasted it with "psychology of use," or that behavior is chosen (not caused, not caught like a cold!) for the purpose it can have in the person's life. If you were in Adlerian counseling, I'd ask, "What do you get out of feeling anxious in the face of the LCSW exam?" There's no "right" answer, only YOUR answer. My experience is that a client's response is to say, "Are you crazy? What could I possibly get out of this behavior that blocks me from my goals, this behavior that I have come to you to stop?!?!" But when we talk, the person begins to see that (1) behavior is chosen, and (2) behavior has a goal, a purpose, a result. So I ask you: What do you intend as a result of being anxious? (Hint: What results have you already gotten?) You've failed the exam twice, showing how powerful you are, and that you can achieve what you set out to achieve! You have chosen, and carried out, a behavior that gives you a result. Since no one else is in charge of your emotions, it is clear that you can do what is needed to get what you want! This is heady stuff! Clearly you are a strong, determined person. (But if you truly want to pass the exam, you'll want to choose some other goal than failing, and some mental behavior other than anxiety to gain this new goal. That's up to you. By choosing as you have, you've shown you are powerful. So choose that which will gain victory...assuming that's what you want.) You might want to talk with an Adlerian /Rational-emotive, or cognitive therapist about your mistaken thought processes before you take the exam again. Best wishes! -- Bob Herrmann-Keeling -- email: bobhk@aol.com C.J. — You say you “have a lot of anxiety.” It’s an interesting way to put it, that you possess (or are possessed by) negative thoughts by which you trouble yourself. This is called “psycholoogy of possession.” Dr. Alfred Adler contrasted it with “psychology of use,” or that behavior is chosen (not caused, not caught like a cold!) for the purpose it can have in the person’s life. If you were in Adlerian counseling, I’d ask, “What do you get out of feeling anxious in the face of the LCSW exam?” There’s no “right” answer, only YOUR answer. My experience is that a client’s response is to say, “Are you crazy? What could I possibly get out of this behavior that blocks me from my goals, this behavior that I have come to you to stop?!?!” But when we talk, the person begins to see that (1) behavior is chosen, and (2) behavior has a goal, a purpose, a result. So I ask you: What do you intend as a result of being anxious? (Hint: What results have you already gotten?) You’ve failed the exam twice, showing how powerful you are, and that you can achieve what you set out to achieve! You have chosen, and carried out, a behavior that gives you a result. Since no one else is in charge of your emotions, it is clear that you can do what is needed to get what you want! This is heady stuff! Clearly you are a strong, determined person. (But if you truly want to pass the exam, you’ll want to choose some other goal than failing, and some mental behavior other than anxiety to gain this new goal. That’s up to you. By choosing as you have, you’ve shown you are powerful. So choose that which will gain victory…assuming that’s what you want.) You might want to talk with an Adlerian /Rational-emotive, or cognitive therapist about your mistaken thought processes before you take the exam again. Best wishes! — Bob Herrmann-Keeling — email: bobhk@aol.com

]]> By: C.J. http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/comment-page-1/#comment-2252 C.J. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:49:53 +0000 http://www.thepsychFiles.com/?p=29#comment-2252 Hello Micheal, I am studying for the LCSW exam and alot of the material is very helpful, especially on Freud, and Erickson. I have failed the test two times, I have alot of anxiety , fear of failing the exam. I studied before but really want to learn what I studied now and get rid of this anxiety, What else do you have to help with the anxiety and on development. Thanks so much Hello Micheal,
I am studying for the LCSW exam and alot of the material is very helpful, especially on Freud, and Erickson. I have failed the test two times, I have alot of anxiety , fear of failing the exam. I studied before but really want to learn what I studied now and get rid of this anxiety, What else do you have to help with the anxiety and on development. Thanks so much

]]> By: Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/comment-page-1/#comment-1483 Michael Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:32:35 +0000 http://www.thepsychFiles.com/?p=29#comment-1483 Bob, Thanks so much for your comment. Clearly you know a lot about the history between Freud and Adler regarding defense mechanisms, so I'll defer to you on this. I was unaware of this issue between the two of them over defense mechanisms. Thanks for this (I fixed the link to the Life Course Institute so it should be working now). - Michael Bob,
Thanks so much for your comment. Clearly you know a lot about the history between Freud and Adler regarding defense mechanisms, so I’ll defer to you on this. I was unaware of this issue between the two of them over defense mechanisms. Thanks for this (I fixed the link to the Life Course Institute so it should be working now). – Michael

]]> By: Bob Herrmann-Keeling http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/comment-page-1/#comment-1384 Bob Herrmann-Keeling Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:37:57 +0000 http://www.thepsychFiles.com/?p=29#comment-1384 Hi Michael Your article on defense mechanisms (Freud) seems to neglect Alfred Adler's earlier contributions ("Safeguarding behavior") which were essentially the same thing but which Freud rejected as being too attached to ego psychology, which was a no-no with him and others at the time. (Which was why, during the spring 1911 debates, Freud accused Adler of speaking only to "ego psychology.") Some 15 years later, however, Freud took Adler's ideas (as he did with so much of Adler!) and re-named them the "ego defence mechanisms." [The Ansbachers devote chapter ten to this topic in their classic "The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler," Basic Books, 1956.] They note that the difference between Freud and Adler on this was Freud's biological orientation, whereas Adler's was social. Of course Adler was the first psychiatrist Freud invited (October, 1902) to help create what became psycho-analysis, so it was to be expected that there'd be some over-lap in their approaches, and some "taking" of Adler's ideas by Freud. E.g., "aggression instinct" by Adler, rejectedd by Freud, then later taken by Freud as a main pillar of psycho-analysis!) Just thought you'd like to know that Adlerians see this article as one-sided and incomplete. (Sorry, my main web site is http://www.lifecourseinstitute.com/, with MUCH info on Adler, but I'm having problems uploading it.) Hi Michael
Your article on defense mechanisms (Freud) seems to neglect Alfred Adler’s earlier contributions (“Safeguarding behavior”) which were essentially the same thing but which Freud rejected as being too attached to ego psychology, which was a no-no with him and others at the time. (Which was why, during the spring 1911 debates, Freud accused Adler of speaking only to “ego psychology.”) Some 15 years later, however, Freud took Adler’s ideas (as he did with so much of Adler!) and re-named them the “ego defence mechanisms.” [The Ansbachers devote chapter ten to this topic in their classic "The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler," Basic Books, 1956.] They note that the difference between Freud and Adler on this was Freud’s biological orientation, whereas Adler’s was social. Of course Adler was the first psychiatrist Freud invited (October, 1902) to help create what became psycho-analysis, so it was to be expected that there’d be some over-lap in their approaches, and some “taking” of Adler’s ideas by Freud. E.g., “aggression instinct” by Adler, rejectedd by Freud, then later taken by Freud as a main pillar of psycho-analysis!) Just thought you’d like to know that Adlerians see this article as one-sided and incomplete. (Sorry, my main web site is http://www.lifecourseinstitute.com/, with MUCH info on Adler, but I’m having problems uploading it.)

]]> By: Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/comment-page-1/#comment-887 Michael Tue, 05 May 2009 10:26:05 +0000 http://www.thepsychFiles.com/?p=29#comment-887 Khamael, Glad you liked the episode. I haven't done an episode on Elizabeth Loftus' research yet, but I really have to. She's done some excellent work. Khamael,

Glad you liked the episode. I haven’t done an episode on Elizabeth Loftus’ research yet, but I really have to. She’s done some excellent work.

]]> By: Khamael Al Safi http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/comment-page-1/#comment-886 Khamael Al Safi Tue, 05 May 2009 08:10:35 +0000 http://www.thepsychFiles.com/?p=29#comment-886 This was really useful for my exam especially that we had to include some critical thinking aspects in our answers..Thanks a lot! I love the connecting to other psychologists (Loftus etc) This was really useful for my exam especially that we had to include some critical thinking aspects in our answers..Thanks a lot! I love the connecting to other psychologists (Loftus etc)

]]> By: Michael Britt http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Michael Britt Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:04:56 +0000 http://www.thepsychFiles.com/?p=29#comment-205 Glad you liked the episode. Thanks for the comment! Michael Glad you liked the episode. Thanks for the comment!

Michael

]]> By: Naazgol http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/02/episode-5-in-defense-of-defense-mechanisms/comment-page-1/#comment-204 Naazgol Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:04:33 +0000 http://www.thepsychFiles.com/?p=29#comment-204 Great! thank u sooo very much! Great! thank u sooo very much!

]]>