Psychoanalytic Meaning
/sˌaɪkoʊˌænəˈlɪtɪk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjOf or relating to psychoanalysis.
Sentence Examples
She has undergone many years of intense psychoanalytic therapy.
The study takes a purely psychoanalytic approach to the film.
The therapist used a psychoanalytic approach to explore his client's past.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ approach emphasizes the role of unconscious desires in human behavior.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The therapist used a ____ approach to help the patient understand the roots of her anxiety.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Ancient Greek ψῡχή (psūkhḗ) Ancient Greek ψῡχο- (psūkho-)der. English psycho- English analytic English psychoanalytic From psycho- + analytic.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Despite the accuracy of his observations, Rechy's political analysis of S&M, although it includes some good insights, is limited, moralistic, and tainted with psychoanalytic bias, and makes the leather scene into a place of warped madness and sickness."
— 1974 February 2, Eric Rofes, “For Leathermen Who Have Considered S&M”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 32, page 19:
"For example, psychoanalytic patients often resist remembering their childhood because they fear they will end up blaming their parents for their problems and feel guilty for betraying them."
— 2000 May 28, Peter Wolson, “A World of Psychophobia”, in Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 10 May 2025:
"It then told me it was trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, which it said was an “effective way to challenge how you’re thinking about things.” Unlike psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapies, C.B.T. argues that our emotions and moods are influenced by our patterns of thinking; change those patterns, the theory goes, and you’ll start to feel better."
— 2022 September 27, Barclay Bram, “My Therapist, the Robot”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 27 Sep 2022:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ approach emphasizes the role of unconscious desires in human behavior.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The therapist used a ____ approach to help the patient understand the roots of her anxiety.