psychoanalysis

[ sahy-koh-uh-nal-uh-sis ]
/ ˌsaɪ koʊ əˈnæl ə sɪs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR psychoanalysis ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a systematic structure of theories concerning the relation of conscious and unconscious psychological processes.
a technical procedure for investigating unconscious mental processes and for treating psychoneuroses.

Origin of psychoanalysis

From the German word Psychoanalyse, dating back to 1905–10. See psycho-, analysis

OTHER WORDS FROM psychoanalysis

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH psychoanalysis

psychiatry psychology psychoanalysis psychotherapy

Words nearby psychoanalysis

psycho-, psychoacoustics, psychoactive, psychoanal., psychoanalyse, psychoanalysis, psychoanalyst, psychoanalytic psychiatry, psychoanalytic therapy, psychoanalyze, psychobabble

Words related to psychoanalysis

therapy, analysis

British Dictionary definitions for psychoanalysis

psychoanalysis
/ (ˌsaɪkəʊəˈnælɪsɪs) /

noun

a method of studying the mind and treating mental and emotional disorders based on revealing and investigating the role of the unconscious mind

Derived forms of psychoanalysis

psychoanalyst (ˌsaɪkəʊˈænəlɪst), noun psychoanalytic (ˌsaɪkəʊˌænəˈlɪtɪk) or psychoanalytical, adjective psychoanalytically, adverb

Medical definitions for psychoanalysis

psychoanalysis
[ sī′kō-ə-năl′ĭ-sĭs ]

n. pl. psy•cho•a•nal•y•ses (-sēz′)

The method of psychological therapy originated by Sigmund Freud in which free association, dream interpretation, and analysis of resistance and transference are used to explore repressed or unconscious impulses, anxieties, and internal conflicts. psychoanalytic therapy
The theory of personality developed by Freud that focuses on repression and unconscious forces and includes the concepts of infantile sexuality, resistance, transference, and division of the psyche into the id, ego, and superego.
Psychotherapy incorporating this method and theory.

Other words from psychoanalysis

psy′cho•an′a•lyt′ic (-ăn′ə-lĭt′ĭk) null adj.

Cultural definitions for psychoanalysis

psychoanalysis

A method of treating mental illness, originating with Sigmund Freud, in which a psychiatrist (analyst) helps a patient discover and confront the causes of the illness. Many psychiatrists believe that these causes are buried deep in the unconscious of the patient and can be brought to the surface through such techniques as hypnosis and the analysis of dreams. Psychoanalysis emphasizes that mental illness usually originates in repressed sexual desires or traumas in childhood.

notes for psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is sometimes simply called analysis.