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Karen J. Prager, Ph.D., A.B.P.P. Professor of Psychology and Program Head for Gender Studies Diplomate in Family Psychology The University of Texas at Dallas |
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More Information About Dr. Prager's work Processes in Couple Relationships Teaching and Professional Practice Selected Papers and Publications
For Students:
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Research Based on Freudian Theory Was Freud concerned with validating his theory? Why is it a difficult theory to test? Why is it difficult to test a theory using case studies? Which, if any, aspects of Freud’s theory are difficult to translate into experimental studies? We discuss research on 2 aspects of Freud’s theory: dream interpretation defense mechanisms Freud on dreams Freud developed the idea that dreams have hidden psychological meanings2 questions addressed by research What do people dream about? Can we use psychoanalytic theory to predict what people dream about? Why do people dream? How do dream researchers investigate dream content? Sleepers are awakened People keep dream diaries Findings? Is the content of dreams random? How do fears, problems, and preoccupations affect dream content? How about unconscious conflicts? If men dream more about male characters and women dream about female and male characters with equal frequency, does this support Freud’s theory of the psychological importance of the Oedipal conflict for males? Why or why not? If recurrent dreams represent chronically unresolved internal conflicts, how would you expect recurrent dreamers to compare with those who do not have recurrent dreams? Is there any evidence to support your prediction? Freud theorized that dreams provided an opportunity to fulfill id wishes symbolically and to work through internal psychological conflicts. Is there evidence to support Freud’s idea that dreaming is psychologically beneficial? Are there clues from research on REM sleep? What is the REM rebound effect, and how does its presence as a phenomenon support Freud’s ideas? Freud on defense mechanisms Defense mechanisms are tools for fending off anxiety and guilt. Used when rational, real-world problem-solving does not yield solutions that will appease both id desires and superego demands.What kinds of tests do researchers use to access unconscious material? How do they transform the test data for use in research? What evidence is there that defense mechanisms change as people mature? Which defense mechanisms, if any, are more adaptive than others? |