Psychoanalytic Therapy (From Correctional Counseling and Rehabilitation, Fourth Edition, P 111-128, 2000, Patricia Van Voorhis, Michael Braswell, et al. -- See NCJ-183019)

• NCJ Number: 183025
• Author(s): David Lester; Patricia Van Voorhis
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses psychoanalytic/psychodynamic theory, psychoanalytic therapy, psychoanalytic approaches to crime and aggressive delinquents, and overall implications for treatment of criminals.

Abstract

Freud's psychoanalytic theory is both the first major theory of the human mind and the first major technique for psychotherapy. Because of its status in the field of psychology, it has been subjected to more analysis and criticism than perhaps any other theory. There are many ways of representing the basic theory, and the ideas presented in this chapter are an attempt to present a modern and rational approach to the theory. Psychoanalytic theory provides an excellent and relatively comprehensive method for understanding the criminal. Based on the theory, a number of generalizations about the motivations and causes of crime can be proposed; however, to understand a particular criminal requires a great deal of information about the person, his/her thoughts, and his/her past. Superficial knowledge about the client allows only questionable speculation. As a technique of therapy, the time involved in even the shorter forms of psychoanalysis is a major drawback. The time required for and cost of such treatment is prohibitive. Few actually undergo or can afford psychoanalysis; however, a thorough knowledge of psychoanalytic concepts provides the counselor with a powerful system for understanding the criminal mind and behavior. Key concepts and terms as well as discussion questions are provided.