psychoanalysis
noun
psy·cho·anal·y·sis
ˌsī-kō-ə-ˈna-lə-səs 
: a method of analyzing psychic phenomena and treating emotional disorders that involves treatment sessions during which the patient is encouraged to talk freely about personal experiences and especially about early childhood and dreams
Examples of psychoanalysis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The critic helps us arts folks cope with the chaos by calling on Homer and psychoanalysis to survive till November and beyond.
—
Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
But, more than the actual fear of legal trouble, what the book represents for me is an encapsulation of Malcolm’s great themes: the inevitable perils of trying to understand and represent other people, and the power struggles intrinsic to such fields as psychoanalysis or journalism.
—The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
Her parents inherited his home, a cabin in the woods, stocked with books on Freud and dreams and psychoanalysis.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 22 June 2024
Therapy is not just one practice — there are many different approaches, from psychoanalysis to exposure therapy.
—Sigal Samuel, Vox, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for psychoanalysis 
Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
But, more than the actual fear of legal trouble, what the book represents for me is an encapsulation of Malcolm’s great themes: the inevitable perils of trying to understand and represent other people, and the power struggles intrinsic to such fields as psychoanalysis or journalism.
—The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
Her parents inherited his home, a cabin in the woods, stocked with books on Freud and dreams and psychoanalysis.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 22 June 2024
Therapy is not just one practice — there are many different approaches, from psychoanalysis to exposure therapy.
—Sigal Samuel, Vox, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for psychoanalysis
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'psychoanalysis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Psychoanalysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychoanalysis. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
psychoanalysis
noun
psy·cho·anal·y·sis
ˌsī-kō-ə-ˈnal-ə-səs
plural psychoanalyses
-ˌsēz
: a method of explaining and treating mental and emotional disorders by having the patient talk freely about himself or herself and especially about dreams, problems, and early childhood memories and experiences
Medical Definition
psychoanalysis
noun
psy·cho·anal·y·sis
ˌsī-kō-ə-ˈnal-ə-səs
variants
also psychanalysis
plural psychoanalyses
-ˌsēz
1
: a method of analyzing psychic phenomena and treating mental and emotional disorders that is based on the concepts and theories of Sigmund Freud, that emphasizes the importance of free association and dream analysis, and that involves treatment sessions during which the patient is encouraged to talk freely about personal experiences and especially about early childhood and dreams
2
: a body of empirical findings and a set of theories on human motivation, behavior, and personality development that developed especially with the aid of psychoanalysis
3
: a school of psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy founded by Sigmund Freud and rooted in and applying psychoanalysis
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