List and explain the four basic techniques of Freudian psychoanalysis.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Four Basic Techniques of Freudian Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, developed a revolutionary framework for understanding the human mind and its influence on behavior. At the core of Freudian psychoanalysis are four fundamental techniques that form the basis of therapeutic practice. These techniques aim to delve into the unconscious and bring repressed thoughts, emotions, and memories to conscious awareness. In this essay, we will explore and explain these four basic techniques of Freudian psychoanalysis.
1. Free Association
Free association is a technique used in Freudian psychoanalysis where patients are encouraged to speak freely and spontaneously without censorship or judgment. The individual is instructed to express whatever comes to mind, regardless of its coherence or relevance. By doing so, unconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories can emerge into conscious awareness.
The therapist’s role during free association is to listen attentively and facilitate the process by providing a safe and non-judgmental environment. Through free association, the patient can gradually uncover hidden conflicts, repressed desires, and unresolved traumas that may be at the root of their psychological distress.
2. Dream Analysis
Dream analysis is another vital technique in Freudian psychoanalysis. Freud believed that dreams are a pathway to the unconscious mind, allowing repressed desires and unresolved conflicts to manifest symbolically. According to Freud, dreams have hidden meanings that require interpretation to gain insight into the individual’s psyche.
During dream analysis, the therapist helps the patient explore the symbols, metaphors, and imagery present in their dreams. By unraveling these symbols and connecting them to personal experiences and unconscious desires, the therapist can help the patient gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
3. Transference
Transference is a phenomenon that occurs when patients unconsciously transfer feelings and attitudes they have toward significant figures in their lives onto the therapist. These emotions can be positive or negative and may resemble relationships with parents, siblings, or other influential individuals from the patient’s past.
The therapist actively engages with transference, recognizing it as a valuable tool for understanding the patient’s unresolved conflicts and dynamics from their past relationships. By exploring transference, the therapist helps the patient gain insight into their unconscious patterns of relating to others and facilitates the resolution of unresolved emotional issues.
4. Interpretation
Interpretation is a key technique used by the psychoanalyst to uncover hidden meanings behind the patient’s words, actions, dreams, and behaviors. The therapist carefully analyzes and interprets the patient’s conscious and unconscious material, offering insights and explanations that help the patient gain self-awareness and understanding.
Interpretations are based on the therapist’s knowledge of psychoanalytic theory and their understanding of the patient’s unique history and dynamics. By providing interpretations, the therapist aims to bring unconscious conflicts, desires, and defenses into conscious awareness, fostering personal growth and psychological healing.
Conclusion
The four basic techniques of Freudian psychoanalysis – free association, dream analysis, transference, and interpretation – form the foundation of this therapeutic approach. These techniques aim to explore the unconscious mind, bring repressed material to conscious awareness, and facilitate insight and healing. By utilizing these techniques in a supportive therapeutic relationship, patients can gain a deep understanding of themselves, resolve inner conflicts, and achieve lasting psychological change.
