Cognitive and affective processes in the psychoanalytic process

Abstract

Theoretical concepts depend on images of humanity which have only limited empirical support and this is particularly true of psychodynamic and humanistic psychotherapeutic methods. Concepts such as health, illness and treatment methods are deduced from these images, while research into such results and methods is greatly disadvantaged by the speculative nature of their foundation. This is most evident when therapeutic methods are obliged to produce evidence of effectiveness. This essay seeks to formulate a contemporary image of humanity which incorporates a systems theory approach and findings from empirical developmental psychology. On this basis, the development of the structure of the psyche, which always exhibits biological and social dimensions, is represented as the individual accomplishing organisation as it seeks to adjust to its surrounding relations.

Furthermore, parallels between development and therapeutic processes are elaborated. Suggestions are then made on a systematics of effective factors. The systematics proposed, from a perspective of process, would place the emotional aspects of a relationship above more cognitive active features in situations where methodological approaches to the person were essentially equivalent.

Keywords:
Psychoanalysis, systems theory, developmental psychology, therapeutically effective factors.