Final answer:
Free association is a psychoanalytic technique where patients speak freely about their thoughts and feelings to reveal the unconscious mind's contents, such as repressed memories and internal conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Free Association?
The technique of free association is A. spontaneous and free-flowing association of thoughts and feelings. Developed by Sigmund Freud, free association is a psychoanalytic process in which a patient says whatever comes to mind without censoring any thoughts. This technique allows the unconscious mind to reveal itself, bringing repressed memories and feelings to the surface. The process was fundamental to psychoanalysis, which Freud used to treat hysterias and neuroses.
Free association aims to access the unconscious, which Freud believed contains thoughts, impulses, and memories that are not readily available to the conscious mind. By encouraging patients to talk freely, psychoanalysts hope to uncover the hidden emotions and internal conflicts influencing their behavior, often originating from early childhood experiences.
It is essential to distinguish free association from defense mechanisms, which are unconscious strategies used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety and to maintain psychological equilibrium.