One fun assignment was to look into a counseling theory and implement the theory into a case. I chose the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley and focused on Tom Ripley. Sigmund Freud is the theorist that first developed psychoanalysis, as well as many other ground-breaking advancements in the field of psychology. While discussing the key points to this theory and then using them to analysis and treat the client, Tom Ripley, one will gain a greater understand to the psychoanalytical theory.
Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis as well as expanded on several other clinical components, which helped many other theories growth (Wedding & Corsini, 2013). Psychoanalysis is one well-known and one of the oldest theories used. It is an approach that looks within to the unconscious and explains how early experiences in childhood, shapes individuals throughout adulthood (Sandel, 2015). While childhood plays a part in this therapy, many other parts come together to make up the psychoanalytical theory. Within this paper, the author will review the theory of psychoanalysis and will implement it into a case study of Tom Ripley from the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley (Minghella, 1999).
Research on Theoretical Perspective
Sigmund Freud created what is known as psychoanalytic theory, which be developed in the 1900s where he also developed the model of the mind, development of the libido, and drive theory (Crockatt, 2006). Among these advancements in the clinical field, Freud worked on a wide range of topics from personality, defense mechanism, narcissism, psychosis, grief, and dreams (Berzoff, 2003; Cramer, 2015; Crockett, 2006; Marshall, 2008). Freud suggested that art making within counseling or therapy would bring up sublimation of repressed sexual desires and narcissistic components (Goldstein, 2013). Narcissism is one area that Freud addressed specifically, when using psychoanalytic theory with psychotic clients. This led to the development of the structural theory of ego, id, and super ego as well as the theory of life and death instincts (Crockett, 2006).
Freud explained how personalities progress through the psychosexual stages of development (Garcia, 1995). The idea surrounding this development is that energy flows throughout individual’s growth and if conflict occurs, the energy can accumulate, creating both physical and psychological implication (Garcia, 1995). Fixations are some of those physical and psychological implications. The term ‘fixation’ is used to describe what happens when you move to quickly or slowly throughout the stages (Garcia, 1995). During the first 20 years of life, an individual goes thorough the stages and conflict may happen between survival and sexual libido (Crockatt, 2006). The stages consist of the oral stage, anal stage, phallic stage, latency, and genital stage. The conflict in those stages can create maladaptive behavior which can include fear, anxiety, and the development of deference mechanism.
The development of defense mechanism was also conceptualized by Sigmund Freud and later Anna Freud expanded on the Ego and defense mechanism (Clark, 1991). She explains the importance of defense mechanism and how they are used to protect individuals from perceived threats (Cramer, 2015). The main point of defense mechanisms is that they are out of the individual’s awareness (Cramer, 2015). Denial, displacement, identification, intellectualization, projecting, rationalization, reaction formation, regression, repression, and undoing are all defense mechanism that one can develop unconsciously (Clark, 1991). The issue with these mechanisms is when they are used consistently and do not help the individual move past the threat. Freud believed that art at an individual level could become a defense against reality but by bringing the unconscious to the individuals conscious could decrease the effect of the defense and move closer to resolving conflict (Cramer, 2015; Goldstein, 2013).
Loss and grief are also mentioned by Freud within his framework. Both can lead to internal changes, which can limit psychological growth (Berzoff, 2003). According to Freud, energy is withdrawn from mourning and grief because the individual is preoccupied with the loss (Berzoff, 2003). There is a difference between healthy and pathological mourning. When healthy mourning occurs, energy that was taken up by grieving decreases with time and that energy can be used to help heal and accept reality (Berzoff, 2003). Art as reparation is believed to help individuals deal with loss or grief and the art can restore or re-create the love lost (Goldstein, 2013). Unconscious conflict, which may include unconscious aggression, can make the process of mourning longer and more difficult for the individual (Berzoff, 2003). Conflicting relationships could be a reason for unhealthy mourning. Pathological mourning is when the mourning never ends, and the loss is continuously unresolved (Berzoff, 2003).
Freud believed dreams played an important role and are vital to his theoretical model (Marshall, 2008). The assumption that thoughts or ideas spread to other related ideas unconsciously is the basis of the interpretation of dreams (Cramer, 2015). Those thoughts and ideas can unconsciously shine through dreams and interpretations in therapy can help bring them to client’s awareness. Freud believed dreams can be interpreted and within those dreams are parts and symbols that uncover the unconscious (Marshall, 2008). Art can help uncover these parts and deep personal truths are linked with contemporary psychoanalysis art (Goldstein, 2013). Deep emotions can come from dreams and while the meaning might not appear directly, Freud was sure that there is always something meaningful that will come from dreams (Marshall, 2008).
Freud claimed psychoanalysis is a scientifically based theory, but many are critical of this assumption and see it more as philological or not scientifically based (Marshall, 2008). Another criticism Freud had was with the interpretation of dreams. While interpretation may be related back to psychosexual stages and fixations, other theorists like Wittgenstein believed that those symbols are not always connected (Marshall, 2008). Lastly, Freud never officially revised his theory, but after the loss of his child, his feelings on grief seemed to change, the detachment he believed was necessary, seemed to modify to one always having a relationship with a deceased loved one (Berzoff, 2003). While this is not a criticism, it does show Freuds theories developed and changed but were not revised officially.
ClientDemographics
Tom Ripley is a very intelligent young white man, who lives in New York. He struggles to make a living and he lives alone in a small rickety apartment. He has no siblings and his parents are not in the picture. Ripley works as a bathroom butler in an orchestra theater. Ripley can learn tasks very quickly by observing things like jazz and people’s mannerisms. He considers forging signatures, telling lies, and impersonating practically anyone as his talents. In new environments Ripley watches, observers, and can blend in and become what he needs to be. Tom Ripley actions suggest his sexual preference is of the same sex, but he rejects the idea when asked.
Presenting Concerns
Ripley became attached to Dickie Greenleaf, but the feelings were not reciprocated. Ripley became upset, lashed out, and murdered Dickie. Ripley then took over Dickie identity, which leads him to murdering more to cover up his lies. Ripley is a manipulator and a compulsive liar. He was able to impersonate Dickie and uses that to cover up what he has done. Ripley rejects his homosexuality and murders another individual he had feelings for. Ripley will not come to terms with his homosexuality, the murders he has committed, the lies he has told, and the loss and grief he is suffering from, leading him to more anxiety and frustration. Ripley also has nightmares and reports seeing Dickie, who he murdered.
Clinical Assumption of Client Concerns
Psychoanalysis is about understanding the influences the unconscious has on conscious thought, behavior, and emotion (Rubin, 2016). Maladaptive behavior occurs when personality structures are in conflict or when defense mechanism become too frequent. Tom Ripley seems to have issues in his psychosexual development. Tom has signs of being stuck on the genital stage, the stage where individuals develop sexual interest in those outside of the family (Garcia, 1995). Ripley became very close with Dickie Greenleaf, but Dickie did not reciprocate the feelings and pushed Ripley away. Ripley is confused and ashamed of what he is feeling. This confusion probably started in childhood during the phallic stage, where he might have dealt with conflicts in the Oedipus complex. This could explain the additional frustration and fear. He is fighting an internal battle about his own sexuality, which may be a reason he lashed out in a violent way. Ripley’s structure of personality is not driven by the Id or impulses, he is very thoughtful about all his actions showing he is driven more by the Ego or reality. When Dickie rejects and then verbally attacks Ripley, his reaction was to stop the attack by acting on both impulse and Ego. He desired a relationship and when that relationship was threatened, he reacted violently with murder. After the murder he then impersonated Dickie. Ripley shows signs of defense mechanisms such as denial and projection. Projection is attributing undesirable behavior to others that are characteristics of self and denial is rejecting responsibility for experiences (Clark, 1991). He denied responsibility by pretending to be the one he murdered and continued in Dickies lifestyle, which detached himself and projected Dickies characteristics to himself. These mechanisms only lead Ripley to more conflict and internal changes. While denying, he was preventing healthy mourning and the unconscious aggression was creating pathological mourning. The conflicting relationship he had with Dickie is still unresolved. This stunt in healing has unconsciously shown up within Ripley’s dreams, he has nightmares and sees Dickie occasionally when stressed. These dreams are meaningful, and interpretation of the parts and symbols are the ideas and thoughts Ripley unconsciously are in conflict with.
Client Goals
Bringing the unconscious to the conscious is one main goal in psychoanalytical therapy (Rubin, 2016). One goal for Tom Ripley would be to resolve some of his unconscious conflicts. Specifically dealing with his issues with sexual preferences. The tension that Ripley has within, need to be drawn out. By bringing these issues to awareness and understanding why he is struggling with them, he will begin the process of resolving those unconscious conflicts. These issues more than likely started in childhood, according to Freud.
Another goal for Ripley would be to work with him through his defense mechanism. By first bringing them to awareness he will then decrease the behavior and hopefully work toward resolving the internal conflict of being rejected and murdering someone he loved. The mechanisms have hindered the mourning process by denying and projecting. Pathological mourning has taken place and grief continues to be unresolved. The reaction to become the person who was just murdered created a continued connection of a loved object and according to Freud, the energy of mourning need to deplete to move toward reality.
The third goal is to change personality and character. Ripley considers lying a talent, but this characteristic has caused more anxiety and irrational behavior consciously and unconsciously. Ripley has become very good at manipulating and lying to anymore he meets including police and good friends. Working toward the source of these characteristic can help better understand the client and work toward healthier changes in personality and characteristics.
Interventions for the Client
To satisfy goal one, of bringing awareness of fixations in psychosexual development and sexual preferences, I will implement free association. The therapist will ask the client to share freely anything that comes to mind. I will suggest being as open and authentic to produce the more effective results in therapy. This goal may be implemented later in sessions while we are working on Ripley’s lying. This process will allow Ripley to examine his thoughts and bring some unconscious thing to the conscious. I will also implement free association art therapy. I will provide oil pastels and again allow Ripley to freely create and we will reflect on what is said and created. Hopefully these sessions will reveal emotions and memories from childhood during the psychosexual stages that created the fixations that currently hinder Ripley.
To satisfied goal two, to resolve unconscious issues specifically with the defense mechanisms, I will implement free association as well. These mechanisms have been implemented to protect Ripley from the issues of aggression and murder that he committed. Using paint and paper I will allow Ripley to freely create and explore emotions. Unconscious aggression is causing pathological mourning and defense mechanisms. I will also implement a dream analysis. Ripley has not dealt with the death of someone he loved and murdered, leading him to have nightmares and dreams. These dreams are important and should be interpreted because the parts of the dreams are meaningful, and the unconscious is coming up to the conscious through dreams. Dream analysis will help clients realize the origins of feelings and emotions.
To satisfy goal three, to change personality and character specifically Ripley’s lying, I will implement free association and assessment of symbolization. We will create many pieces of art to put together why lying is something Ripley uses and finds as a talent. We will look at other talents and compare them to lying. Hopefully, we can find patterns in the artwork and look at symbols that were created throughout the sessions. I want Ripley to be honest with the therapist and himself through this process. Freely talking about why, when, and where lying origins are from. Most likely, childhood is where this ‘talent’ started and from there it grew, we will want to work from childhood to resolve the characteristic.
Predicted Outcomes for the Client
Ripley was assigned a counselor while in prison, court-ordered. Ripley started his case by pleading not guilty, throughout sessions he began to become aware of his defense mechanisms. He kept denying his conviction as well as his feelings. He was able to come to terms with his sexual preferences and no longer denies the murders as well as the feelings he had for Dickie. He changed his plea to guilty after several weeks of sessions. Ripley created a 5-piece project that memorialized Dickie and after that he decided to spend his energy on other things. The mourning process had been completed and Ripley voluntarily joined a grief group within the prison system. Ripley’s nightmares slowly decreased, and he was able to talk more about other dreams he started having about his future and growth. At the beginning of Tom Ripley’s time in prison, he was very agitated, very manipulative, and lied compulsively. He could easily get a new officer to believe he was able to do things he was not allowed to. By the end of our counseling relationship he no longer would manipulate others in the prison. He joined the prison workforce where he was able to grow on the new talents we discussed during sessions, such as being a hard worker. His other talents include his love for classical music and playing instruments, Ripley’s behavior was good, so they allowed him to listen to classical music in his cell. He also is working with the prison to allow instruments into the prison and has times to play. Ripley offered to teach others how to play instruments.
Discussion
Using psychoanalysis for Tom Ripley was successful and although honesty was a struggle at first, Ripley was interested in understanding things about himself better. Tom is a white male so there are few issues or misapplication with this theory. Ripley is not rich but that and family history could align with the clinical assumption of childhood issues and overall help with the client’s progress. The fact the Ripley had issues with sexual development and same sex preferences could lead to solely focusing on childhood and sexuality, which may be the main and only viewpoint for his maladaptive behavior when other problems could be the reason. This approach looks at how the past affects how you act and behave in adulthood and this may be comforting to some. Changing issues in personality that cause conflict overall helps clients and many enjoy connecting issues to a specific time or event. Some weakness to psychoanalysis is the over exaggeration of sexual libido in childhood where many criticize sexuality in childhood (Sandel, 2015).
Personal Reflection
While researching psychoanalysis I believe I have gained a better understanding of the theory as a whole. The roots of this theory are interesting, and Sigmund Freud researched and developed so much. He dedicated his life to understanding and I appreciate the passion he had for understanding the mind. Applying this theory to Tom Ripley, I have gained a better appreciation. This theory may look too much into sexuality into childhood, but I do think past events can directly impact how you react to things in adulthood. I would take part in this theory with me while practicing counseling in the future. This may be beneficial to some clients and in that case, I would be glad to apply and use it for future clients. Overall, I believe a more eclectic approach works best. I want to be willing to meet the client where they are and give them what they need through therapy and this will be my main approach for future clients.
Conclusion
Psychoanalysis is a theory developed by Sigmund Freud that looks at childhood and how events and experiences lead to behaviors in adulthood (Wedding & Corsini, 2013). In this paper, Psychoanalysis was implemented in the case study of Tom Ripley from The Talented Mr. Ripley. Throughout this paper, the author depicts the key points, developments, and the overall theory of psychoanalysis. While any theory can be implemented and have the potential to work, meeting the client where they are and working with them to provide the best service is the best method. Psychoanalysis is still used today and has had a profound impact on other therapies and theories used and developed. By using the therapy of psychoanalysis in the case of Tom Ripley, I hope a greater understanding of the theory was realized.
References
Berzoff, J. (2003). Psychodynamic theories in grief and bereavement. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 73(3), 273–298. doi:10.1080/00377310309517686
Clark, A. J. (1991). The identification and modification of defense mechanisms in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 69(3), 231–36. Retrieved from http://uc.opal-libraries.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ426842&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Cramer, P. (2015). Defense mechanisms: 40 years of empirical research. Journal of Personality Assessment, 97(2), 114–122. doi:10.1080/00223891.2014.947997
Crockatt, P. (2006). Freud’s “on narcissism: An introduction.” Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 32(1), 4–20. Retrieved from http://uc.opal-libraries.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ829304&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Garcia, J. L. (1995). Freud’s psychosexual stage conception: A developmental metaphor for counselors. Journal of Counseling & Development, 73(5), 498–502. Retrieved from http://uc.opal-libraries.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ515761&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Goldstein, G. (2013). Art in Psychoanalysis: A Contemporary Approach to Creativity and Analytic Practice. London: Karnac Books. Retrieved from http://uc.opal-libraries.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=604955&site=eds-live&scope=site
Marshall, J. D. (2008). Wittgenstein, Freud, dreaming and education: Psychoanalytic explanation as “Une Facon de Parler.” Educational Philosophy and Theory, 40(5), 606–620. Retrieved from http://uc.opal-libraries.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ807527&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Minghella, A. (Director), & Minghella, A. (Writer). (1999). The Talented Mr. Ripley [Motion picture].
Rubin, J. A. (2016). Approaches to art therapy: Theory and technique. London: Routledge.
Sandle, R. (2015). Viewing conflict through a reconsideration of the application of psychodynamic sexual theory in transactional analysis. Transactional Analysis Journal, 45(4), 289–300. doi:10.1177/0362153715609042
Wedding, D., & Corsini, R. J. (2013). Current psychotherapies. Boston, MA: Cengage.
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