Remarks On The Problem Of Free Association
Free association is a powerful yet deteriorating
psychoanalysis technique in need of improvement, argues Fromm in his article “Remarks
On The Problem of Free Association”. Prior to a thorough investigation of the
technique as applied in psychoanalysis today, the author provides us with an
understanding of the methodology as practiced by Freud. According to Fromm, there
are two essential components to Freud’s grand discovery of the said method. The
first part being the fundamental discovery of the unconscious, and the second
being the discovery of a method to recognize the unconscious. To fathom the
approach used to discern the unconscious, the author explains that one has to
first understand a paramount concept brought forth by Freud, which states that
there are two intrinsic and distinct identities in each individual. Namely the
official identity or in other words the rational and conventional persona, and
on the other hand the dissociated identity or the hidden and unobservable
persona. These two identities basically fuse to create the character of an individual.
Nonetheless, Fromm contends that the dissociated identity or personality has a
more pervasive effect on the way we think and act on a daily basis.
While investigating Freud’s approach to detecting the unconscious,
the author points to the brilliancy in the former’s technique. According to
Fromm, Freud recognized that a person could reveal his unconscious identity
without neither being asleep nor on drugs. The famous neurologist discovered that
while conscious, a series of steps could be used to influence a person into engaging
in an unconventional thinking process. As mentioned in the article, Freud would
tap on his patient’s forehead and instruct them to say what was on their mind at that very
moment, thus, ensuring that what they said was spontaneous. From these free and
spontaneous mental associations, the neurologist would be able to make sense of
the patient’s unconscious identity. Unfortunately according to Fromm, Freud’s technique
has become ritualistic and inefficient throughout the years. He disputes that
the free association technique as used presently has lost its most essential component
spontaneity. Based on the way patients are treated today, whereby the patient
sits on couch and is told to state what he is thinking at that time by a therapist
sitting silently near him, Fromm contends that it does not ensure spontaneous thinking,
even though no thought might be omitted in the process.
The author
suggests numerous ways to improve and stimulate the free association
methodology. He states that rather than telling a patient “tell me what comes
to mind”, one ought to say “tell me what is in your mind right now”. Fromm
argues that this is similar to Freud’s tap on the forehead. Furthermore, the
author states that to ensure more spontaneous thinking, a patient for example
can be given a picture of his father and told to focus on it and say the first
thing that comes to his mind, that way the therapist is able to uncover the
unconscious identity of the patient. Though Fromm provides multiple example on
ways to assure that the free association method doesn’t become a sterile
ritual, the essence of his remarks on the subject is that without the element
of spontaneity the technique is meaningless.
Critique
Fromm does a
great job in providing solutions as to how we ought to ensure that the free
association methodology remains efficient and relevant. Nonetheless, one flow
with his article is that he fails or forgets to demonstrate in a comprehensive
manner how a therapist is able to make sense of the spontaneous thoughts of his
patients. Put practically, if an individual is shown a picture of his father,
and the first thing he says is “car” because his dad is leaning against one
instead of perhaps the word “mean”, then how does one discern the profound
feelings the individual has towards his father.
Source: http://www.fromm-gesellschaft.eu/images/pdf-Dateien/1955d-e.pdf
Source: http://www.fromm-gesellschaft.eu/images/pdf-Dateien/1955d-e.pdf
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The effectiveness of free association greatly relies on the participants willingness to fully participate in the process instead feeling pressured to create associations. A participant that is familiar with what is expected during the psychoanalysis can easily trend his/her answer to suit the therapist or create memories or thoughts that are not real.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Oddi. Full cooperation is necessary in order for the process to truly work. I imagine that within the setting, it is not uncommon for patients to feel pressured into providing responses that do not necessarily reflect their train of thought for a number of reasons (fear or ridicule, attempting to appeal to the therapist, provide the "correct" response, etc.).
ReplyDeleteThis article is all well and good but how can we apply this to the workplace. Specifically in intel. As Oddie stated the method is already predisposed to bias. How then, could we maintain spontaneity but stay on task in an unbiased way?
ReplyDeleteOddi, I absolutely agree with you. The Patient needs to feel comfortable. Which is why Freud brought forth the idea of having a "couch" that the patient could lay on and relax. Obviously before the tap on the head, the therapist puts the client at ease.
ReplyDeleteWell Matthew, here I was really just looking at the method from a psychoanalysis perspective. Nevertheless, I think that whomever is using the method should avoid the whole session turning into mere "free talk" instead of unconventional and unbiased "free thoughts".
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