Free association is a therapeutic technique used to uncover unconscious thoughts.
You must have seen in some movie or some other time that a doctor makes a patient sit on a bench, couch, or sofa and chats with him/her for a long time. Such a doctor is called an analyst in psychological terms, who works diligently to bring the patient back to memory the thoughts they’ve lost. These thoughts relate to life experiences that the patient has either consciously or unconsciously forgotten.
What is free Association?
Free association is a technique where the analyst provides the patient with a free environment. Where the patient can express all his or her thoughts, fantasies, or whatever comes to mind. The fundamental principle of free association is openness. Here, the client does not censor their thoughts or language. Furthermore, thoughts and fantasies that are socially unacceptable are allowed. As a result, the patient is gaining a deep understanding and glimpses into his unconsciousness.
Theoretical foundation of free association.
To understand free association, first, we need to differentiate the levels of consciousness. The techniques of Psychoanalysis were developed by the topographical model of the mind, where the mind is divided into three levels.
- Consciousness: thoughts and feelings we are aware of and experiencing in the moment.
- Preconsciousness: thoughts and memories we have forgotten and can be easily brought back into awareness.
- Unconsciousness: repressed memories, desires, and past experiences that we have forgotten completely, yet have a profound impact on our mentality.
Here, free association refers to unconscious thoughts that we have forgotten due to ego defense mechanisms. Simply, defence mechanisms refer to our traumatic experiences in life. When we suppress our traumatic experiences instead of solving them, they remain in our minds as unsolved phenomena and create anxiety and unrest.
Finding such unconscious thoughts and experiences is not easy to address. For that purpose, Psychotherapists use therapeutic techniques of psychoanalysis, and free association is one of those techniques.
Tactics in free association.
To find out the unconscious thoughts, psychoanalysts use multiple tactics. These tactics help us to find out the unresolved traumatic past experiences.
Non-direct communication.
In free association, the therapist doesn’t ask any guided questions. In this technique, the client is left completely open so they can share their thoughts. These thoughts can be anything related to the client’s experiences.
Analysis of resistance.
In free association, when the client gets stuck while sharing an experience or feels uncomfortable, this is called resistance. Resistance is known as a mood where the client discusses their unresolved and avoided thoughts. To reach the exact point, the therapist provokes such resisting thoughts and brings unresolved unconscious thoughts to the surface.
Interpretation of recurring themes.
Psychoanalysts pay special attention to repeated words, ideas, and thoughts. This is also a way to address unconscious thoughts.
Emotional reactions paused.
Sudden emotional changes, mild or intense reactions that occur during free expression, are considered significant and are studied further.
linking present thoughts to past experiences:
Free thoughts often range from current issues to childhood memories, helping customers understand how past experiences shape current behavior.
Transference Analysis.
Patients unconsciously redirect feelings towards therapists, also. Actually, these feelings are due to the past experiences of the clients with some other individual. Now, here is why the client unconsciously considers the therapist as that individual or shows such behaviour. One advantage of this is that the therapist catches the specific unconscious thought of the client through this behaviour, which may be causing a psychological problem.
Core method for addressing and uncovering.
When unconscious thoughts start to reveal themselves through free association, they can be further investigated. To investigate further, psychoanalysts leverage some tactics. First, analysts try to gain more awareness of the root causes of emotional conflicts. After that, they allow the client to discuss those specific causes. In the third stage, the past experiences are reinterpreted. This method gives the client a mature and realistic perspective on suppressed thoughts. Finally, the hidden thoughts gradually become visible in conscious thoughts. This is the stage where the client’s negative coping mechanisms are replaced with positive behavior. Self-care, mindfulness, problem-solving, and spending time with loved ones are the behavior changes that build resilience.
Conclusion.
Free Association technique in Psychology is one of the most powerful techniques for understanding and accessing the unconscious mind. Developed by Sigmund Freud, this technique gave a different lens to look at mental issues. Behavioral or cognitive techniques focus on presenting symptoms that create depression, anxiety, or other psychological problems. In contrast, free association deeply probes our minds. This is a long-term technique where the analyst studies the client’s unconscious thoughts, revealing unresolved conflicts that shape our emotions or behavior.