Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTheoriesHistoryPsychoanalysis TheoristsKey IdeasPros and ConsSupport and CriticismIts Past and PresentPsychoanalysis Today

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Table of Contents

Theories

History

Psychoanalysis Theorists

Key Ideas

Pros and Cons

Support and Criticism

Its Past and Present

Psychoanalysis Today

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Psychoanalysis is a method of therapy in which the patient talks about experiences, early childhood, and dreams.It refers to both a theory and a type of therapy based on the belief that all people possess unconscious thoughts, feelings, desires, and memories.

In psychotherapy, people are able to feel safe as they explore feelings, desires, memories, and stressors that can lead to psychological difficulties. Research has demonstrated that the self-examination utilized in the psychoanalytic process can contribute to long-term emotional growth.

Psychoanalysis Theories

Psychoanalysis also suggests that:

History of Psychoanalysis

Many ofFreud’s observations and theorieswere based on clinical cases and case studies. This made his findings difficult to generalize to the larger population. Still, Freud’s theories changed how we think about the human mind and behavior and left a lasting mark on psychology and culture.

Freud’s theories ofpsychosexual stages, the unconscious, and dream symbolism are still popular among both psychologists and laypeople, but others view his work with skepticism.

Today, psychoanalysis encompasses:

Although traditional Freudian approaches have fallen out of favor, modern approaches to psychoanalytic therapy emphasize a non-judgmental, empathetic approach.

Important Milestones

Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and the psychodynamic approach to psychology. Freud believed that the human mind was composed of three elements:the id, the ego, and the superego.

Other thinkers—including his own daughter,Anna Freud—also left a significant mark on the field. Among the most prominent names in psychoanalysis wereErik Erikson,Erich Fromm, andCarl JungErik Erikson expanded on Freud’s theories and stressed the importance of lifelong growth. Erikson’s psychosocial stage theory of personality remains influential today in our understanding of human development.

Who Were the Neo-Freudians?

Key Ideas

Psychoanalysis also involves a number of different terms and ideas related to the mind, personality, and treatment.

Case Studies

A case study is defined as an in-depth study of one person, group, or event. Some of Freud’s most famous case studies include Dora, Little Hans, andAnna O. These cases had a powerful influence on the development of his psychoanalytic theory.

In a case study, the researcher attempts to intensely examine every aspect of an individual’s life. By closely studying a person, a researcher can gain insight into how an individual’s history contributes to their current behavior.

Although the hope is that the insights gained from a single case study could apply to others, it is difficult to generalize the results, because case studies tend to be highly subjective. In some instances, the factors involved in a particular case are so individualized that they may not apply to others.

The Life and Work of Sigmund Freud

The Conscious and Unconscious Mind

Theunconscious mindincludes all of the things that are outside of our conscious awareness, such as early childhood memories, secret desires, and hidden drives. According to Freud, the unconscious contains things that we might consider to be unpleasant or even socially unacceptable. We bury these things in our unconscious because they might bring us pain or conflict.

While these thoughts, memories, and urges are outside of our awareness, they still influence how we think and behave. In some cases, the things that are outside of our awareness can influence behavior in negative ways and lead to psychological distress.

The conscious mind, on the other hand, includes everything that is inside of our awareness. The contents of the conscious mind are the things we are aware of or can easily bring into awareness.

Unconscious MindThoughts, urges, or feelings that are unpleasant, difficult, or even socially unacceptable.Buried because they can bring about pain or conflict.Can sometimes be brought into awareness using certain techniques.

Thoughts, urges, or feelings that are unpleasant, difficult, or even socially unacceptable.

Buried because they can bring about pain or conflict.

Can sometimes be brought into awareness using certain techniques.

Thoughts, feelings, and urges that we are aware of or can easily bring into awareness.

Not hidden or suppressed.

The Role of the Conscious Mind

The Id, Ego, and Superego

Freud believed that an individual’s personality had three components: the id, the ego, and the superego.

Id

The first of the key elements of personality to emerge is known as the id. The id contains all of the unconscious, basic, and primal urges.

Ego

The second aspect of personality to emerge is known as the ego. This is the part of the personality that must deal with the demands of reality. It helps control the urges of the id and makes us behave in ways that are both realistic and acceptable.

Rather than engaging in behaviors that are designed to satisfy our desires and needs, the ego forces us to fulfill our needs in ways that are socially acceptable and realistic. In addition to controlling the demands of the id, the ego also helps strike a balance between our basic urges, our ideals, and reality.

Superego

The superego is the final aspect of personality to emerge, and it contains our ideals and values. The values and beliefs that our parents and society instill in us are the guiding force of the superego and it strives to make us behave according to these morals.

The Ego’s Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are strategies that the ego uses toprotect itself from anxiety. These defensive tools act as a safeguard to keep unpleasant or distressing aspects of the unconscious from entering our awareness. When something is experienced as overwhelming or even inappropriate, defense mechanisms keep the information from entering our consciousness, which minimizes our distress.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Over the course of the early 20th century, the influence of psychoanalysis grew. However, it was not without critics. Despite its flaws, psychoanalysis continued to play a key role in the development of psychology. It influenced our approach to treating mental health conditions and continues to exert an influence on psychology today.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Many of the criticisms of psychodynamic approaches are based on the earlier Freudian approaches to treatment. Many people are skeptical of psychoanalysis because the evidence supporting its effectiveness has often been viewed as weak. One of the critics' main arguments is that it’s not as effective as other treatments.

More recently, however, research has demonstrated that this approach can have a number of benefits.One systematic review of previous studies concluded that psychoanalytic therapy was an effective treatment that resulted in the reduction of symptoms and long-term changes that persisted for years after treatment ended.

A 2015 review found that psychodynamic therapy could be effective in the treatment of a number of conditions include:

Another critique is that psychoanalysis often requires an investment of time, money, and effort. Psychoanalysis is also generally a long-term proposition. In the world we live in today, people are usually seeking fast results and approaches that yield an effect in days, weeks, or months. Psychoanalytic therapy typically involves a client and therapist exploring issues over a period of years.

Using the criteria established for evidence-based treatment, traditional psychoanalysis alone does not, in fact, pass muster as a method of therapy for the large majority ofpsychological disorders. However, to dismiss Freud’s contributions as irrelevant to psychology…is an oversimplification.—SUSAN KRAUSS WHITBOURNE, PHD

Using the criteria established for evidence-based treatment, traditional psychoanalysis alone does not, in fact, pass muster as a method of therapy for the large majority ofpsychological disorders. However, to dismiss Freud’s contributions as irrelevant to psychology…is an oversimplification.

—SUSAN KRAUSS WHITBOURNE, PHD

Past and Present

Many of Freud’s ideas have fallen out of favor in psychology, but that certainly does not mean that his work is without merit. Research also supports at least some of Freud’s original ideas.

His approach to therapy (specifically, the suggestion that mental illness was treatable and that talking about problems could bring relief) was a revolutionary concept that changed how we approach the treatment of mental illness.

“Reviews of neuroscientific work confirm that many of Freud’s original observations, not least the pervasive influence of non-conscious processes and the organizing function of emotions for thinking, have found confirmation in laboratory studies,” explained Peter Fonagy in an article published inWorld Psychiatry.

Freud’s Contributions to Psychology

Some have suggested that if Freud were alive today, he would likely be interested in topics related to brain functioning. Prior to the development of psychoanalysis, Freud’s interests had centered on developing a neural model of behavior. Researchers today also suggest that the neurobiological underpinnings of psychoanalysis are worth further exploration.

Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhDPsychologists today talk about thepsychodynamic, not thepsychoanalytic perspective. As such, this perspective refers to the dynamic forces within our personalities whose shifting movements underlie much of the basis for our observable behavior. Psychoanalysis is a much narrower term referring to the Freudian-based notion that to understand, and treat, abnormal behavior, our unconscious conflicts must be worked through.

Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhD

Psychologists today talk about thepsychodynamic, not thepsychoanalytic perspective. As such, this perspective refers to the dynamic forces within our personalities whose shifting movements underlie much of the basis for our observable behavior. Psychoanalysis is a much narrower term referring to the Freudian-based notion that to understand, and treat, abnormal behavior, our unconscious conflicts must be worked through.

Psychoanalysis as Freud conceived it might be on the decline, but that does not mean that the psychodynamic perspective has disappeared or that it will be going anywhere soon.

If you ask someone what comes to mind when they think of psychology, Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis are likely to be common responses. There is no question that psychoanalysis—both as a therapeutic approach and theoretical outlook—has left its mark on psychology.

Most psychologists today employ a more eclectic approach to the field of psychology, though there are some professionals who still take a purely psychoanalytical point of view on human behavior.

Many contemporary psychologists view psychoanalysis with skepticism. Some even feel derision toward Freud’s school of thought. In a world of psychology where cognitive processes, neuroscience, andbiopsychologydominate, is there still room for psychoanalysis?

The Future of Psychoanalysis

There are a few things that psychoanalysis as a field can do to ensure its continued relevance in the world of psychology. Some things that can help improve the legitimacy and relevance of psychoanalytic methods include:

Some current efforts to revitalize psychoanalysis focus on psychoanalytic concepts that are more evidence-based (such as attachment theory) or on connecting Freud’s idea of the unconscious to modern neuroscience.

A Word From Verywell

Freud’s mark on psychology is still felt today.Talk therapyis most often associated with psychoanalysis, but therapists also use the technique in other approaches to treatment, includingclient-centered therapyandgroup therapy.

Psychoanalysis might not be the force it was back in 1910, but Freud’s theories have had a lasting influence on both popular culture and psychology.

The Origins of Psychology

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Psychoanalysis. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.American Psychoanalytic Association.About psychoanalysis.Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol. 2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378de Maat S, de Jonghe F, Schoevers R, et al.The effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapy: A systematic review of empirical studies. In:Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews[Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 2009.Fonagy P.The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update.World Psychiatry. 2015;14(2):137-50. doi:10.1002/wps.20235Fonagy P.Psychoanalysis today.World Psychiatry. 2003;2(2):73-80.Solms ML.The neurobiological underpinnings of psychoanalytic theory and therapy.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:294. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00294Paris J.Is psychoanalysis still relevant to psychiatry?Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(5):308-312. doi:10.1177/0706743717692306Redmond J, Shulman M.Access to psychoanalytic ideas in American undergraduate institutions.J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 2008;56(2):391-408. doi:10.1177/0003065108318639Cieri F, Esposito R.Psychoanalysis and neuroscience: The bridge between mind and brain.Front Psychol. 2019;10:1790. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01983

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Psychoanalysis. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.American Psychoanalytic Association.About psychoanalysis.Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol. 2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378de Maat S, de Jonghe F, Schoevers R, et al.The effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapy: A systematic review of empirical studies. In:Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews[Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 2009.Fonagy P.The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update.World Psychiatry. 2015;14(2):137-50. doi:10.1002/wps.20235Fonagy P.Psychoanalysis today.World Psychiatry. 2003;2(2):73-80.Solms ML.The neurobiological underpinnings of psychoanalytic theory and therapy.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:294. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00294Paris J.Is psychoanalysis still relevant to psychiatry?Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(5):308-312. doi:10.1177/0706743717692306Redmond J, Shulman M.Access to psychoanalytic ideas in American undergraduate institutions.J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 2008;56(2):391-408. doi:10.1177/0003065108318639Cieri F, Esposito R.Psychoanalysis and neuroscience: The bridge between mind and brain.Front Psychol. 2019;10:1790. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01983

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Psychoanalysis. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.American Psychoanalytic Association.About psychoanalysis.Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol. 2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378de Maat S, de Jonghe F, Schoevers R, et al.The effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapy: A systematic review of empirical studies. In:Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews[Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 2009.Fonagy P.The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update.World Psychiatry. 2015;14(2):137-50. doi:10.1002/wps.20235Fonagy P.Psychoanalysis today.World Psychiatry. 2003;2(2):73-80.Solms ML.The neurobiological underpinnings of psychoanalytic theory and therapy.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:294. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00294Paris J.Is psychoanalysis still relevant to psychiatry?Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(5):308-312. doi:10.1177/0706743717692306Redmond J, Shulman M.Access to psychoanalytic ideas in American undergraduate institutions.J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 2008;56(2):391-408. doi:10.1177/0003065108318639Cieri F, Esposito R.Psychoanalysis and neuroscience: The bridge between mind and brain.Front Psychol. 2019;10:1790. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01983

Psychoanalysis. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.

American Psychoanalytic Association.About psychoanalysis.

Shedler J.The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy.Am Psychol. 2010;65(2):98-109. doi:10.1037/a0018378

de Maat S, de Jonghe F, Schoevers R, et al.The effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapy: A systematic review of empirical studies. In:Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews[Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 2009.

Fonagy P.The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update.World Psychiatry. 2015;14(2):137-50. doi:10.1002/wps.20235

Fonagy P.Psychoanalysis today.World Psychiatry. 2003;2(2):73-80.

Solms ML.The neurobiological underpinnings of psychoanalytic theory and therapy.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018;12:294. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00294

Paris J.Is psychoanalysis still relevant to psychiatry?Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(5):308-312. doi:10.1177/0706743717692306

Redmond J, Shulman M.Access to psychoanalytic ideas in American undergraduate institutions.J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 2008;56(2):391-408. doi:10.1177/0003065108318639

Cieri F, Esposito R.Psychoanalysis and neuroscience: The bridge between mind and brain.Front Psychol. 2019;10:1790. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01983

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