ABSTRACT
Typically, discussions in the literature that take one or another position on issues concerning the clinical relevance of psychoanalytic theory do so on the basis of theoretical considerations and arguments. Perhaps the most familiar examples are provided by the innumerable discussions for or against the clinical usefulness, the epistemological legitimacy, or the necessity of the economic point of view. It is common knowledge that from its inception psychoanalysis has been plagued by difficulties and controversies, internal as well as external. The structure and content of its theory, diverse and sometimes conflicting recommendations concerning its technique, its status as a science, its effectiveness as therapy, its legitimacy as an investigative methodology, and its claim to being a general psychological theory are representative issues that remain largely unresolved. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
