Evaluation of Psychoanalysis

Evaluation of Psychoanalysis

1. Strengths

   • Bergin found that the longer the intensive treatments the better the results, however from data of 10,000 patients 80% benefited from psychoanalysis
   • As psychoanalysis tends to be both lengthy and intensive, it would be suspected to produce better results

2. Weaknesses

   • The patient may begin to feel a reliance on the therapist with the treatments taking a long time, therefore may not feel that when they are away from the therapist their situation is controlled
   • Repressed memories may be false memories
     • Psychoanalysis claims to help patients to recover 'repressed memories' however often they plant new memories of sexual assault or alien abduction.
   • It looks at the cause of the abnormalities and doesn't give a solution to overly cure it.
   • Placebo effect applies here
   • Unethical- may bring up past tensions