psychoanalysis

plural psychoanalyses

1. countableuncountableA family of theories and methods within the field of psychotherapy that work to find connections among patients' unconscious mental processes.

   Psychoanalysis has sprung many surprises on us, performed more than one volte face before our indignant eyes.

   1921, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “Psychoanalysis vs. Morality”, in Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Seltzer, →OCLC, page 9

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   To be sure, this much I may presume you do know, namely, that psychoanalysis is a method of treating nervous patients medically.

   1920, Sigmund Freud, A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis

   Psychoanalysis, the modern science of reading dreams, has taught us to take heed of these unsubstantial images. Also it has found a way to let them do their work.

   1968, Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 2nd edition, London: Fontana Press, published 1993, page 8

   Because psychophobia is so endemic to human nature, the process of psychoanalysis involves a continual exploration of the patient’s resistance to knowing what is dreaded in the unconscious mind.

   2000 May 28, Peter Wolson, “A World of Psychophobia”, in Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 10 May 2025