Endopsychic Conflicts

Endopsychic conflicts, even though they do not become conscious, draw a great deal of nervous energy which could otherwise be used for creative activities.

     Endopsychic Conflicts is a manifestation of structural differentiations of a contradictory kind. Such conflicts result from the interaction of the three parts of the personality: the id, ego, and super ego. According to Freud, there is only so much “psychic energy” available to the three parts of the personality. Therefore, all three systems are in constant competition for this energy in order to take control and dominate the personality. As the three parts of the personality compete for psychic energy, they create conflicts within the psyche, which in turn create conflicts within the psyche, which in turn create anxiety. The organism can attempt to alleviate the conflicts by creating defense mechanisms. Endopsychic conflicts always involve the ego and either or both the id or superego.

    Defense Mechanisms Freud’s concept of defense mechanisms was one of his most important theoretical achievements. Defense mechanisms develop unconsciously when the ego feels threatened by an endopsychic conflict. When this occurs, defense mechanisms can be utilized to deny, falsify, or distort reality so the ego can cope. The role of the counselor can therefore be to help strengthening can involve psycho-educational interventions that provide clients with information they can use to take a more realistic position regarding stresses in their environment. Some of the more common defense mechanisms are projection, reaction formation, fixation, regression, and repression.

• Projection is an attempt to attribute to another person one’s own thoughts or feelings.
• Reaction formation is a way of coping by creating an extreme emotional response that opposite of how one actually feels. This results in a “falsification of reality.”
• Fixation can occur if the demands of life become too threatening. In an attempt to avoid new responsibilities, a person can avoid growing up and fixate, or stand still, in terms of development.
• Regression is an attempt to cope by moving back to a point in one’s development that was less threatening.
• Repression is an attempt to cope by creating an avoidance response. The stressful situation is pushed from the conscious to the unconscious dimension of the mind.

  Nervous energy, is a combination of nervousness, with excitement. It is the feeling of excitement, anxiety, and nervousness wrapped up into one. It can give you an adrenaline rush, and put you into suspense. It usually involves some sort of waiting. Nervous energy is sometimes typical to certain individuals such as people with anxiety disorders, athletes, and people who work in certain lines of work like a police officer, and gambling!