FREUD AND SYSTEMS THEORY AN EXPLORATORY STATEMENT BY PIETER WILLEM GROBBELAAR A dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree. Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in Psychology in the Faculty of Arts at the Rand Afrikaans University Promoter: Dr. M.F. Joubert Co-promoter: Prof. D. Beyers November, 1989 dedicated to Phoenix Estropu ••••••• OPSOMMING Alhoewel Freudiaanse teorie tradisioneel een van die belangrikste benaderings tot psigoterapie is, is ook baie indringende kritiek vanuit verskillende perspektiewe daarop gelewer. Daar is gepoog om die positivistiese en hermeneutiese kritiek te beantwoord op beide 'n teoretiese en 'n metodologiese vlak deur gebruik te maak van 'n sistemiese benadering. 'n Sistemiese perspektief is gevolglik nie net gebruik om 'n teoretiese herformulering van Freudiaanse teorie te bewerkstellig nie, maar dit is ook gebruik om 'n metodologie wat aan die vereistes vir aanvaarbare navorsing op Freudiaanse teorie voldoen, te ontwikkel. Die metodologie bestaan daaruit dat dit 'n volledige rapportering van so veel as moontlik van die navorsingsproses insluit wat beteken dat die terapeut se teoretiese uitgangspunte, die agtergrondsgegewens van die pasient en die volledige transkripsie van die sessies aangegee word. Die gegewens is kwantitatief sowel as kwalitatief ontleed. Die kwantitatiewe ontleding is gedoen met behulp van 'n rekenaar program, genaamd WORDS, wat op grond van 'n tros analise die tematiese lyne in die sessies aandui. Die kwalitatiewe ontleding van die gegewens behels die aandui van die sekwensi~le ontwikkeling van die interaksies, asook die spesifieke ontleding van die vrye-assosiasies in die sessie. Die gevolgtrekkings wat bereik is in die studie word gekonstitueer, en is ingebed, in die uitspeel van die navorsingsproses in sigself. Die waarnemings, die gedagtes, die prosesse, die patrone, skep saam die beeld wat die gevolgtrekking is. SUMMARY Although Freudian theory traditionally constitutes one of the most important approaches to psychotherapy, it has also generated much criticism from different scientific perspectives. An attempt is made in this study to answer the criticisms of the hermeneuticians and the positivists by using a systemic approach to indicate a possible solution to the methodological and theoretical problems which beset Freudian theory and praxis. The research procedure was reported as fully as possible. This implies that the therapist's theoretical perspectives, the case history of the patient, and the complete transcription of the sessions are reported. The results were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed in an integrated approach. The quantitative analysis was done with the use of a computer program called WORDS, which employs a clustering technique to indicate the development of thematic centroids. The qualitative analysis of the sessions indicates the sequential development of the interaction, and also includes the analysis of the free-associations in each session. The conclusions which are reached in this study are constituted, and reflected in the report of the research process itself. The observations, the thoughts, the processes and the patterns together create the picture which is the conclusion. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I express my gratitude to the following people for the contributions they made to this study:- My promoters, Marietjie Joubert and Dave Beyers; Anelle Rossouw, for her typing; Norma Coosner and Alex Potter for their editing; The Human Sciences Research Council and the Rand Afrikaans University for financial assistance. The author is solely responsible for all opinions expressed in this study. ******* INDEX PAGE CHAPTER 1 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1 .1 • Introduction 1 1.2. The research problem in Freudian theory 3 1 • 3. Psychoanalysis and systems theory 5 1 • 4. The logico-historical antecedents and the main principles of systems theory 10 1 • 5. The development and structure of this study 13 1.5.1. Structure of the study 16 CHAPTER 2 18 FREUDIAN THEORY 18 2.1 • Introduction 18 2.2. The sexual aetiology of neurosis 20 2.2.1. Freudian procedure 20 2.2.2. The differential diagnosis of the neurosis 22 2.3. The structure and functioning of the psyche 27 2.4. The structure of ideation 42 2.5. The interpretation of dreams 44 2.5.1. Free and bound energy 46 ( i i) .•• (ii) PAGE 2.5.2. Condensation 47 2.5.3. Displacement 51 2.5.4. Regard for representability and symbolization 54 2.5.5. The structure of the psyche 55 2.5.6. Wish-fulfilment 57 2.6. Death and destruction 61 2.6.1. Beyond the pleasure principle 61 2.6.2. The Ego and the Id 63 2.7. Conclusion 65 CHAPTER 3 67 THE PHILOSOPHICAL CRITICISM OF FREUDIAN THEORY 67 3.1 . Introduction 67 3.2. The hermeneutic critique of Freudian theory 67 3.2.1. Freud's views on the scientific status of psychoanalytic theory 69 3.2.2. A discussion of Habermas's critique of Freud 73 3.2.2.1. Habermas's epistemological criticism of Freud 77 Conclusion 81 Cioffi's criticism of Freud 82 Farrel's critique of Freudian theory 85 (iii) ••• (iii) PAGE 3.4.1. The use of case material to validate F'reudian theory 91 Conclusion 100 CHAPTER 4 101 EPISTEMOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN SYSTEMS THEORY 101 4.1 • Introduction 101 4.2. Definition and properties of a system 102 4.3. Epistemology 107 4.3.1. Definition of epistemology 108 4.3.2. The recursive nature of knowledge 108 4.3.3. Cybernetics 110 ... 4.3.4. On causality 117 4.3.5. Autopoiesis 121 4.3.6. Autopoiesis and cognition 125 4.3.6.1. Language and self-awareness 125 Form and substance 126 Empirical observation and systems theory 128 Conclusion 132 (iv) ••• (iv) PAGE CHAPTER 5 133 TOWARDS THE REFORMULATION OF IMPORTANT FREUDIAN CONCEPTS 133 5.1 • Introduction 133 5.1 .2 A first statement 134 5.2. On the processes which determine the changes from unconsciousness to consciousness 138 Language as an organizing principle in the psyche 145 5.4. The homeostatic function and the organization constituted in the organism 150 On the genesis of hysterical symptoms and the general functioning of the psyche 153 5.6. Defence and repression 157 5.6.1. Manifest and latent dream content 160 5.6.2. Explicating and extending Freud's views on the factors determining the organization of dream elements 166 5.7. Transference and repetition 173 5.8. Conclusion 175 ( v) ••• (v) CHAPTER 6 177 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 177 6.1 • Introduction 177 6.2. Ricoeur's views on the verification of Freudian theory 178 The pre-conditions for research on Freudian theory 184 A historical survey of research on Freudian theory 185 6.4.1. Research on the dynamic theory 186 6.4.1 .1. Oral character 187 6.4.1.2. Anal character 189 6.4.2. The relationship between adult personality types and infantile experiences 191 6.4.2.1. Retrospective studies 191 6.4.2.2. Cross-cultural studies 192 6.4.2.3. Current and longitudinal studies 192 6.4.3. Studies on the erotic nature of oral and anal activities 194 6.4.4. Research on the Oedipus complex 196 6.4.5. Research on the structural theory 201 6.4.6. Defence mechanisms 205 6.4.6.1. Studies on repression-proper 206 6.4.6.2. Studies on primary repression 210 6.4.6.3. Displacement 211 (vi)/ ... (vi) PAGE 6.4.6.4. Projection 212 6.4.6.5. General studies on defense mechanisms 212 Conclusion 215 6.5. The methodological perspectives structuring the research in this study 216 6.6. The quantitative analysis 218 6.6.1. Historical perspective 218 6.6.2. WORDS systems logic 219 6.6.3. The WORDS procedure 220 CHAPTER 7 222 A PUNCTUATION OF THE FREUDIAN HOUR 222 7.1 • Introduction 222 7.2. Research procedure 226 7.3. Case history and contextual briefing 227 7.3.1. Contextual background 228 7.4. Therapist's perception of the patient 231 7.5. Data and discussion 234 7.6. Session 1 237 7.6.1. Sequential analysis 264 7.6.2. Quantitative analysis 270 7.6.3. Analysis of free-associations 273 (vii)/ ..• (vii) PAGE 7.7. Session 2 278 7.7.1. Sequential analysis 340 7.7.2. Quanti ta ti ve analysis 346 7.8. Session 3 348 7.8.1. Sequential analysis 374 7.8.2. Quantitative analysis 378 7.8.3. Analysis of free-associations 381 7.9. Session 4 385 7.9.1. Quantitative analysis 413 7.9.2 Sequential analysis 415 7.9.3. Analysis of free-associations 429 7.9.4. Patient's commentary on the sessions 438 7.9.5. Therapist's commentary on the patient's commentary 448 CHAPTER 8 451 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 451 8.1 • Reflections and refutations 451 8.2. Weaknesses in this study and indications for future research 455 Conclusion 456 BIBLIOGRAPHY 461 - 1 - CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1. Introduction Freudian theory has been one of the major streams of thought in psychology since the beginning of the century and has also made a far greater impact on Western thinking than any other psychological theory has done. Many important personality theorists such as Jung, Adler, Horney, Fromm and Sullivan have, to a lesser or greater extent, incorporated Freudian concepts into their theories. Many personality theories directed at, and generated from, clinical practice have also been based on Freudian theory. The theories of Melanie Klein, Winnicot, Fairbairn, Wilhelm Reich, Lacan and the ego psychologists take Freudian theory as their departure point. However, Freudian theory has always been extremely controversial. From the beginning, when Freud and Breuer published their Preliminary Communication in 1893 and Studies on Hysteria in 1895, the academic community has been extremely sceptical of the scientific credibility of Freudian theory. This 2/ ..