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Psychoanalytic Theory

Psychoanalytic theory uses adapted concepts, theories and points of view tools of psychoanalysis to analyse human beings, cultural phenomena and cultural and social concepts and ideologies.

  • explores the construction of phenomena produced by complex and ambiguous desires.
  • can explore and reveal the hidden meanings, which phenomena have besides the obvious and visible meanings.
  • The focus of the approach is usually phenomena related to the ego of the individual.
  • Results of the analysis can be extended to form an explanation model or as a starting point of analysis of ideologies and broader cultural and social phenomena.

Psychoanalytic theory is closely related to hermeneutics

Applied Psychoanalytic theories are related to postmodern thinking.

Links to more information:

Felluga, Dino, 2003. Introduction to Psychoanalysis. Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. Purdue University.

Definition of Psychoanalytic criticism, 1998. Critical Approaches. Bedford Books.

Scherman, T.H. Psychoanalytical criticism. Practical Criticism. Northeastern Illinois University.

Abele, Chris, Cronmiller, Liz, DeZurik, Allison, Hudson, Josh, Marinos, Diana, Ogborn,  Matt and Pellicier, Tamara, 1997. Psychoanalytic criticism. In Spurgin, Tim. Contemporary Literary Theory. Lawrence University.

Psychoanalytic literary criticism. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Lye, John, 2008. Psychoanalytic Theory: Terms and Concepts. Brock University.

Lye, John, 1996. Psychoanalysis and literature. Brock University.