sálgreiningu

Sálgreiningu, often translated as psychoanalysis, is a therapeutic method and theoretical framework developed by Sigmund Freud. It focuses on exploring the unconscious mind and its influence on a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The core idea is that many psychological problems stem from repressed memories, unresolved conflicts, and unconscious desires.

The primary technique in sálgreiningu is free association, where the patient is encouraged to say whatever comes to mind without censorship. The analyst listens for recurring themes, patterns, and symbolic meanings within the patient's discourse. Dreams are also considered a "royal road to the unconscious" and are meticulously interpreted. Transference, the process by which a patient unconsciously redirects feelings and desires from significant figures in their past onto the analyst, is another key concept. This transference is seen as an opportunity to understand and work through old relational patterns.

The goal of sálgreiningu is to bring unconscious material into conscious awareness, thereby allowing individuals to gain insight into their difficulties and achieve psychological relief. This process is typically long-term, involving frequent sessions over an extended period. While Freud's original theories have been expanded upon and modified by many subsequent psychoanalysts, the fundamental principles of exploring the unconscious and its impact on the individual remain central to the practice.