ABSTRACT
Psychoanalysis was a theory that attempted to explain human behavior, and that made strong claims about the efficacy of its clinical methods. The chapter will review research on the basic constructs of psychoanalytic theory, both those proposed by Freud, and more modern versions. The problems reconciling analytic models with current developments in developmental psychology will be highlighted. For example, while the most important concept in psychoanalysis, as well as the best supported by research, is the unconscious mind, the nature of unconscious processes is understood in a different way by cognitive science. The chapter will also examine the evidence for the efficacy of psychoanalytic therapy. It will be shown that there is strong support for briefer forms of psychodynamic therapy, and that the results are generally equivalent to those associated with cognitive behavioral therapy. On the other hand, the evidence for the efficacy of classical psychoanalysis is weak, as it is based entirely on pre-post comparisons as opposed to clinical trials. Also, while some meta-analyses claim to support longer-term dynamic therapies, methodological problems do not permit generalization of these findings. The chapter will end by examining what kind of research could provide stronger support for the theory and practice of psychological treatments based on psychoanalysis.
