Asked by Briana Finian on Jul 24, 2024

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During a heated argument with his father,15-year-old Jason developed a paralysis of his right arm. Medical examinations can find no physical cause for the paralysis. Use the psychoanalytic perspective to explain how the paralysis may be Jason's attempt to deal with an unconscious conflict between his id and superego.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

A theory in psychology which asserts that psychological issues stem from unconscious conflicts rooted in childhood experiences.

Unconscious Conflict

Psychological struggles within the unconscious mind, often stemming from repressed thoughts or feelings, that can influence behavior and emotions.

Id

In psychoanalytic theory, the part of the human personality that is driven by innate instinctual impulses and primary processes.

  • Comprehend Freud's perspectives on personality structure, particularly the roles of the unconscious mind and defensive strategies.
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Rocio VazquezJul 29, 2024
Final Answer :
From a psychoanalytic perspective, Jason's paralysis of his right arm could be a manifestation of his unconscious conflict between his id and superego. The id represents his instinctual desires and impulses, while the superego represents his internalized moral standards and values.

During the heated argument with his father, Jason may have experienced intense feelings of anger, frustration, and rebellion, which are driven by his id. However, these feelings may have conflicted with his superego's desire to maintain a respectful and obedient relationship with his father.

In order to cope with this internal conflict, Jason's unconscious mind may have manifested the paralysis of his right arm as a way to physically express the internal struggle between his id and superego. By immobilizing his arm, Jason may be attempting to suppress or avoid acting on his instinctual desires and impulses, while also seeking to gain sympathy and attention from his father and others.

This psychosomatic symptom could be a way for Jason to unconsciously cope with the emotional turmoil he experienced during the argument. It may also serve as a defense mechanism to protect himself from the overwhelming emotions and conflicting desires he is experiencing. In this way, the paralysis of his right arm can be seen as a symbolic representation of Jason's attempt to manage his unconscious conflict between his id and superego.