Psychotherapeutic processes deal with psychological problems, ranging from mild ones like a depressed mood, to more subtle ones like interpretation of dreams to more controversial problems like dissociative identity disorder. Denied emotions (not admitting or voicing one's emotions to the therapist) is a root cause of many psychological problems as honest communication is the numero uno factor for the psychotherapeutic process to work. Emotional honesty can be a difficult task for the client or patient.
Psychotherapists make analysis of dreams a significant part of their work. It is tempting to wish petulantly that the unconscious would speak to us more clearly as significance of many dreams eludes us. But dreams that can be interpreted provide helpful information like warnings of personal pitfalls; solutions to problems; sources of necessary information and judgement; as direction-finders when we feel lost; as pointers to the way we proceed when we are floundering and the message always seems to be one designed to nurture spiritual growth.
The unconscious may communicate to us when we are awake with as much elegance and beneficence as when we are asleep, although in a slightly different form of 'idle thoughts' or even fragments of thought. As with dreams, we pay these idle thoughts no attention and cast them aside as insignificant. Hence patients in psychoanalysis are instructed to say everything, however insignificant, that comes in their minds. Idle thoughts provide us with insight into ourselves and others.
The seemingly alien and unwanted quality is characteristic of unconscious material and its manner of presentation to the conscious mind. This and the associated resistance of the conscious mind led Freud to perceive the unconscious as a repository of the primitive, the antisocial and the evil within us. He tended to assume that mental illness somehow resided in the unconscious as a demon in the subterranean depths of our mind. To Carl Jung fell the responsibility of correcting this which he did through his work The Wisdom of the Unconscious. As he concluded, mental illness is not a product of the unconscious but a phenomenon of consciousness or a disordered relationship between conscious and unconscious. Consider the matter of repression. Freud discovered in his patients sexual desires and hostile feelings of which they were unaware but which were making them ill. Because these desires and feelings resided in the unconscious, the notion arose that it was the unconscious that caused the mental illness. But why were these desires and feelings in the unconscious in the first place? Why were they repressed? The answer is that the conscious mind did not want them. And it is in this not wanting, this disowning, that the problem lies.
A major difference between the points of view expressed by Freud and Jung as discussed in the passage is:
Show Hint
- One considered ailments of the mind to be the result of conflict between the conscious and the unconscious, while the other considered them to be inherent in the unconscious.
- One considered that ailments of the mind are grounded in the conscious, while the other considered them to be triggered by the unconscious.
- One considered that the evil qualities of human beings resided in the unconscious mind, while the other considered that the unconscious mind repressed desired feelings.
- One considered that ailments of the mind are grounded in the unconscious, while the other considered them to be triggered by the conscious.
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
- Freud: Viewed unconscious as a repository of primitive, antisocial, and evil → cause of illness
- Jung: Argued that illness came from conflict caused by conscious mind rejecting unconscious desires → conscious rejection triggers disorder
Thus: - Freud = unconscious causes disorder
- Jung = conscious rejection of unconscious causes disorder
Final Answer: \( \boxed{\text{D}} \)
Which of the following statements are logically consistent with the paragraph?
(I) Idle thoughts can sometimes illuminate the situation of the person as valuable messages from the unconscious.
(II) Emotionally dishonest clients are very poor communicators and suffer from psychological problems.
(III) Dissociative identity disorder is primarily due to denied emotions.
(IV) Dreams can help effect, in us, better understanding and development of the spirit.
(V) Honest communication and open interaction can positively influence a psychotherapeutic process.
(II) Emotionally dishonest clients are very poor communicators and suffer from psychological problems.
(III) Dissociative identity disorder is primarily due to denied emotions.
(IV) Dreams can help effect, in us, better understanding and development of the spirit.
(V) Honest communication and open interaction can positively influence a psychotherapeutic process.
Show Hint
- I, III, IV
- I, IV, V
- I, II, IV
- II, III, V
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
(II) × No direct link between dishonesty and poor communication is stated that strongly.
(III) × DID is mentioned, but no direct link to "denied emotions" alone.
(IV) \checkmark Paragraph 2: Dreams are solution guides, spiritual growth → Supported
(V) \checkmark Paragraph 1: Denied emotions → core problem; emotional honesty helps → Supported Final Answer: \( \boxed{\text{B}} \)
If a paragraph were to be inserted between the first and second paragraphs, it would most likely deal with which of the following?
Show Hint
- Dreams can be instrumental in gauging a person's emotional state.
- Emotions are, very often, the substance of a person's idle thoughts.
- It is very difficult to gauge emotional honesty.
- Dreams, often, are indicative of emotions that remain unexpressed.
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Second paragraph starts with: "psychotherapists make analysis of dreams a significant part of their work."
A good bridge paragraph would link emotions (first para) to dreams (second para) — ideally saying how dreams reflect emotional state.
Option (A) directly links dreams to emotional state — perfect fit.
(b) and
(d) repeat idea of dreams = emotions, but not as strongly transitional.
Final Answer: \( \boxed{\text{A}} \)
In saying "It is tempting to wish petulantly that the unconscious would speak to us more clearly..." the author intends to suggest:
Show Hint
- The inability to understand the unconscious can irritate psychotherapists when pursuing their objectives.
- The inability to understand the unconscious can puzzle psychotherapists in pursuit of their objectives.
- The inability to understand the unconscious can frustrate psychotherapists when pursuing their objectives.
- The inability to understand the unconscious can divert psychotherapists from their objectives.
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
This aligns best with:
(c) frustration — psychotherapists expect more clarity from the unconscious but don't get it.
Other options:
(A) Irritation = too strong and misaligned tone
(b) Puzzle = not emotional enough
(d) Divert = unrelated to mood expressed
Final Answer: \( \boxed{\text{C}} \)
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
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