Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What primary focus does psychoanalysis aim for in psychological assessment?

1. Understanding conscious behaviors

2. Exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings

3. Assessing physical symptoms

4. Developing medication plans

The correct answer is: Exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings

The primary focus of psychoanalysis in psychological assessment is to explore unconscious thoughts and feelings. This approach, founded by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes the significance of the unconscious mind in influencing behaviors, emotions, and overall mental health. By delving into aspects such as repressed memories, internal conflicts, and deep-seated beliefs, psychoanalysis seeks to bring these unconscious elements to the surface. This process can help individuals gain insight into their psychological issues and facilitates healing by addressing the root causes of their behavior, rather than just the observable symptoms. Other approaches, such as those focusing on conscious behaviors or physical symptoms, do not align with the core principles of psychoanalysis. Furthermore, developing medication plans is generally outside the scope of psychoanalysis, as this field is more concerned with talk therapy and the therapeutic relationship than with pharmacological interventions. Therefore, the correct choice accurately reflects psychoanalysis's goal of understanding the deeper, often hidden, layers of the human psyche.