Freud’s Psychoanalysis Theory Matrix

Criteria Definition Freud’s Psychoanalysis

Theory

Generates Research This criterion relates to the
“ability of a theory to
stimulate and guide further
research” (Feist et al., 2018,
p. 12). The criterion is
considered the most
important criterion in
determining whether a
theory is useful or not.

Freud’s psychoanalysis
theory has many
assumptions that are
difficult to test. Nonetheless,
there are many scientists and
researchers who have
conducted various studies
that are related to
Psychoanalysis Theory
either directly or indirectly
(Feist et al., 2018, p. 60).
Thus, Freud’s
psychoanalysis theory has
the ability to generate
research. However, given its
many assumptions that are
almost impossible to test,
the theory gets an average
score on its ability to
generate research.

Falsifiable This is the “ability of a
theory to be confirmed as

The psychoanalysis theory
is definitely not falsifiable.

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either true or false” (Feist et
al., 2018, p. 12). For a
theory to be considered
falsifiable, it should precise
enough such that its major
tenets can be either be
supported or unsupported by
data obtained through
scientific research. If the
theory is “so vague that its
major tenets can be
supported by both negative
and positive research results
then the theory is not
falsifiable” (Feist et al.,
2018, p. 12).

A falsifiable theory is one
that can be proven to be
right or wrong through
scientific testing. The
psychoanalysis theory does
not meet this standard. An
example of the difficulty of
falsifying psychoanalysis is
Freud’s interpretation of
dreams. According to Freud,
dreams are a form of wish
fulfilment. However, he
provides a story where a
woman dreamt that her
mother-in-law was coming
to visit her. This dream
could not be considered
wish fulfilment because the
woman had a deep hatred of
the mother-in-law and,
therefore, would not have
wished to be visited by her.
Freud concludes that the
woman had the dream
merely to prove to him that

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not all dreams are wish
fulfilment (Feist et al., 2018,
p. 60). The story reveals
how difficult it is to falsify
the psychoanalysis theory.
Thus, the theory is generally
not falsifiable.

Organizes Data This criterion relates to the
ability of a theory to “have
research data that is not
incompatible with each
other” (Feist et al., 2018,
p.13).

A useful theory should be
able to organize data into a
framework that is
meaningful. The fact that
the psychoanalysis theory
puts a lot of emphasis on the
unconscious means that a lot
of data that is seemingly
inconsistent can fit into the
boundaries of the theory.
This is because the
unconscious is generally
flexible and loose.
Generally, the
psychoanalysis theory seeks
to find answers to the
question of why people
behave in a certain way.

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However, only a few of the
others that the theory
provides were arrived at
through diligent scientific
investigation. Many of the
answers are based on
Freud’s own assumptions
and logical extensions of
these assumptions (Feist et
al., 2018, p. 60). Thus,
psychoanalysis scores
poorly on its ability to
organize data.

Guides Action A useful theory should
“provide a structure for
finding answers” (Feist,
2018, p. 13). If the theory is
not useful “practitioners
would stumble in the
darkness of trial and error
techniques” (Feist et al.,
2018, p. 13). Thus, this
criterion relates to the ability
of a theory to guide the
work of practitioners.

A useful theory should be
able to act as a guide to
action especially when
looking for solutions to
practical problems. The
psychoanalysis theory is a
very comprehensive theory.
For a long time, it has
guided practitioners in
finding solutions to
problems that they
encounter in their daily

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work. However, it seems to
have lost its dominance in
psychotherapy that it once
held. Many modern-day
psychotherapists rarely use
the theory in their work as
some other theories have
emerged that are better at
explaining the problems that
they encounter (Feist et al.,
2018, p. 61). Thus, forty or
so years ago, psychoanalysis
theory could be considered
as having the ability to
guide action. However,
currently that is not the case.
Therefore, psychoanalysis
theory scores low on its
ability to guide action.

Internally Consistent A theory is internally
consistent if “its
components are logically
compatible” (Feist et al.,
2018, p. 14). An important
component of internal

Freud’s psychoanalysis
theory cannot be considered
to have internal consistency.
One key element that a
theory should have in order
to be considered to have

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consistency is “the use of
concepts and terms that have
been clearly and
operationally defined” (Feist
et al., 2018, p. 14).

internal consistency is
presence of operationally
defined terms. In the
psychoanalysis theory,
terms such as Oedipus
complex, superego, ego, id,
and phallic stage are not
operationally defined (Feist
et al., 2018, p. 61). In other
words, they are not spelled
out in terms of specific
behaviors or actions.
Therefore, psychoanalysis
theory lacks internal
consistency.

Parsimonious (simple) A useful theory should be
simple and straightforward.
“When two theories are
equal in their ability to
generate research, to be
falsified, to provide
organized data, to provide a
guide to practical actions,
and in their internal
consistency, the simpler

Even though psychoanalysis
theory may seem difficult
and cumbersome, it can still
be considered a
parsimonious theory. This is
because it deals with human
personality, a very
complicated subject. Thus,
given the subject the theory
deals with, the theory of

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theory is preferred” (Feist et
al., 2018, p. 14). Feist et al.
(2018, p.14) adds that a
useful theory should not be
“bogged down under the
weight of complicated
concepts and esoteric
language”.

psychoanalysis is a
parsimonious theory.