Understanding Psychopathology
Dep. of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, MU
13th
and 14th
April 2012
Teacher
Michael Friedrich, MSc, post MSc, Counselling Psychologist, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist
Assessment of the course
The course will be assessed by a written essay in English.
Requirements and course enrolment limitations
The course will be taught in English.
100% attendance required.
Abstract
The course explores factors which contribute to the development of psychopathology. This includes:
genetics, loss, abuse, dysfunctional socialisation and choice of dysfunctional coping strategies. Knowledge
of these factors can help in formulating an understanding of the patient/client during the process of clinical
work.
Syllabus
1. The Banality of Evil in the Psychotic, Borderline, Neurotic Continuum.
We will explore psychotic states of mind and their impact on the patient and their world.
Recommended reading:
Steiner, J. (1993). Psychic Retreats – Pathological Organisations in Psychotic, Neurotic and Borderline
Patients. Chapter 8: The relationship to reality in psychic retreats, pp. 82-102. London & New York:
Routledge.
Bateman, A. and Holmes, J. (1995). Introduction to Psychoanalysis, contemporary theory and practice.
Chapter 10: Psychoanalytic contributions to psychiatry, pp. 212-242. London and New York: Routledge.
2. The Abused and the Abuser: an intra and inter personal field
In this seminar we will look at the dynamics of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Recommended reading:
Cahill, C., Llewelyn, S.P. & Pearson, C. (1991). Long term effects of sexual abuse in childhood: A review.
British Journal of Psychology, 117-130.
Channing, L. Bete Co., Inc. (1987). About Adults Abused as Children.
Hirigoyen, M.F. (1998). Stalking the Soul: Emotional Abuse and the Erosion of Identity. Chapter 1:
Emotional Abuse in Private Life, pp. 13-50. New York: Helen Marx Books.
3. The Nerd
In this seminar we will explore the defensive dynamics of grandiosity, avoidance, obsession and control.
Recommended reading:
Storr, A. (1979, 1990 paperback ed). The Art of Psychotherapy. Chapter 11: The Obsessional Personality,
pp. 113-124. London: Secker & Warburg.
Storr, A. (1979, 1990 paperback ed). The Art of Psychotherapy. Chapter 12: The Schizoid Personality, pp.
125-141. London: Secker & Warburg.
4. Being Hysterical
We will explore the underlying dynamics of feeling affronted, hurt, indignant and accusing.
Recommended reading:
Bollas, C. (2000). Hysteria. Chapter 11: The Malignant Hysteric, pp. 127-145. London: Routledge.
Storr, A. (1979, 1990 paperback ed). The Art of Psychotherapy. Chapter 9: The Hysterical Personality, pp.
82-92. London: Secker & Warburg.
5. Sadness
We will attempt to understand the ways in which loss, abuse, repudiation and neglect may contribute to
depression and what defences people sometime use in response to feelings of sadness.
Recommended reading:
Freud, S. (1955 ed). On Metapsychology. Mourning and Melancholia (1917), pp. 245-268. London:
Penguin.
Storr, A. (1979, 1990 paperback ed). The Art of Psychotherapy. Chapter 10: The Depressive Personality,
pp. 93-113. London: Secker & Warburg.
6. The Abandoned Child
In this seminar we will explore how the loss in childhood of the significant (m)other affects that person as an
adult. This loss may be through bereavement, adoption or fostering.
Recommended reading:
Klein, J. (1987). Our Need for Others and its Roots in Infancy. Chapter 16: Inadequate environment and
fragile self, pp. 304-319. Chapter 17: Basic faults as the cause of splits, pp. 320-342. London: Routledge.
7. Factors which contribute to the development of psychopathology
We will try to understand the factors which might contribute towards the development of psychopathology.
Recommended reading:
Bateman, A. & Holmes, J. (1985). Introduction to Psychoanalysis, contemporary theory and practice.
Chapter 2: Models of the Mind, pp. 27-48 and Chapter 3: Origins of the internal world, pp. 49-75. London
and New York: Routledge.
8. The Forces of Destiny
We will explore the way in which various factors and forces interplay in a continual way in our inter and
intra psychic worlds forming decisions, feelings, thoughts, acts, words and attitudes.
Recommended reading:
Bateman, A. and Holmes, J. (1995). Introduction to Psychoanalysis, contemporary theory and practice.
Chapter 4: Mechanisms of Defence, pp. 76-94. London and New York: Routledge.
Bollas, C. (1991). Forces of Destiny. Chapter 2: The Destiny Drive.