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Psychoanalytic and cognitive therapies: a comparison of theory and tacticsK Z Altshuler et al. Am J Psychother. 1984 Jan. AbstractThe theory and tactics of psychoanalytic and cognitive therapies for depression are explored. Tactics developed from either theoretical base are often similar, though described in different terms. Analytic therapies, being derivative from psychoanalysis, are broader in the possibilities prescribed, and therefore less rigorous in the application of several active techniques. In part because of this, there are differences between analytic and cognitive therapies in session structure, in history taking, in dealing with transference and countertransference, and with paranoid patients. A paradigm is offered regarding the reasons for success or limited success with either method. Similar articles
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Keywords Cognitive behavioral research on locus of control and self-efficacy has produced an extensive body of empirical results that might prove useful to psychoanalytic researchers endeavoring to strengthen the empirical foundation of psychoanalytic therapy. Cognitive-behaviorists and psychoanalysts share a common interest in the importance of perspectives and belief systems and their impact on individual freedom, and comparative research on therapeutic effectiveness could yield benefits for both therapeutic approaches. Locus of control and self-efficacy are central elements in cognitive-behavioral psychology, and they play an important role in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Although the psychoanalytic approach does not explicitly employ those concepts, psychoanalytic therapists are obviously concerned with problems of effective action and internal obstacles to action. Attention to these two perspectives and their overlapping interests offers potential benefits for both the cognitive-behavioral and the psychodynamic approaches to psychological research and therapy. One potential benefit is the development of useful tools for advancing empirically based research on psychoanalysis. As Lehrer (1999) states, it is advantageous to ground psychoanalysis in "firm empirical evidence whenever possible." Although there have obviously been significant positive steps in that direction (Singer 2003; Weiss 1995, 1988; Weiss and Sampson 1986), psychoanalytic researchers have recognized that one source of difficulty is in finding clearly measurable research objectives and hypotheses (Burgin 2002). Cognitive-behavioral research on locus of control and self-efficacy has produced an extensive body of research using clear measurement standards that could prove useful in the empiricist approach to psychodynamic theories. In particular, those cognitive-behavioral research findings might offer a means of extending empirical investigation of psychodynamic theory in a direction usually regarded as difficult to test empirically: the study of psychoanalytic effectiveness to "change your way of seeing" (Lieberman 1999). Shifting locus of control or efficacy expectations in specific domains (Bandura 1997) [End Page 125] would empirically confirm the effectiveness of psychoanalytic techniques. It might well be that some efficacy expectations are enhanced more effectively by psychodynamic processes than by cognitive-behavioral therapy, or that psychoanalysis is effective in enhancing some specific efficacy expectations but not others. This could potentially extend the empirical examination of psychoanalytic theory as well as provide a base of comparison with cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. Although self-efficacy enhancement might be a fruitful empirical test for psychodynamic therapy, therapeutic intervention to modify locus of control potentially could be even more productive. Current research indicates that one's orientation toward locus of control is a relatively stable characteristic, although it can be modified (Holyrod et al. 1984; Rotter 1979; Sadow and Hopkins 1993). One reason for locus of control stability may be that the locus of control imposes a perspective on the conceptualization of all one's experiences: from a strong internal locus of control perspective I view failures and successes as largely my own doing, whereas from an external locus perspective even my most effective efforts are seen as events that were outside my control: "I guess it was just my time to do well on a math exam," rather than "My hard work for that exam really paid off." (Lieberman makes this phenomenon quite clear in his excellent discussion of transparency.) Although locus of control is not easily modified, it is important to find effective means of helping subjects to achieve such changes, because research shows that a strong internal locus of control is positively correlated with success in work, sports, studies, marriage, and psychological adjustment (Lefcourt 1981, 1992), as well as with better health care behavior and better health (Bandura 1977; Schorr and Rodin 1982; Schulz 1976; Schulz and Hanusa 1978; Wallston 1993). Those deeply enmeshed in an external locus of control enjoy less real freedom and suffer severe disadvantages. How does one effect a shift in such a basic orientation? Not easily. From a psychoanalytic approach, the key will lie in recognizing and reconceptualizing the beliefs that impede effective action. Cognitive-behaviorists are more likely to... What is the major difference between psychoanalysis and cognitive therapy?Psychoanalysis requires a patient who wants to learn about unconscious thoughts and their past while CBT focuses more on current problematic thoughts and behaviors. A benefit of both methods is that medication is not used.
What is the difference between psychodynamic and cognitive theory?The cognitive approach uses the experimental method and carries out snap shot research. Whereas, the psychodynamic perspective mainly uses case studies that are longitudinal. The behavioural perspective claims that people learn dysfunctional behaviour through classical and operant conditioning.
In what ways are psychoanalysis and cognitive therapy similar?It is an approach which encourages the client to think about the evidence before taking action. However, CBT shares similarities with Freudian psychoanalysis. With reference to schemas, they are embedded in cognitive structures that are developed in the early life experiences and are maintained through one's life.
Is psychoanalytic theory cognitive?Matthew Erdelyi shows psychoanalysis to be quintessentially cognitive psychology—one fully concerned with the problems of consciousness, structure, representation, meaning, storage and retrieval, transformation, and bias in thinking.
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