Psychoanalysis Criticisms and Alternative Perspectives 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which philosopher argued that psychoanalysis is unfalsifiable and therefore not a genuine science?
- Karl Popper (Correct answer)
- Thomas Kuhn
- Bertrand Russell
- A.J. Ayer
Correct answer: Karl Popper
Karl Popper argued that psychoanalytic claims cannot be falsified by any possible observation, disqualifying it from scientific status.
Question 2: Feminist critics of Freud most commonly object to which concept as reflecting cultural bias rather than biological truth?
- Oedipus complex
- Penis envy (Correct answer)
- Death drive
- Condensation
Correct answer: Penis envy
Penis envy has been widely criticized by feminists such as Karen Horney as a projection of patriarchal assumptions onto women's psychology.
Question 3: Which neo-Freudian emphasized social and cultural factors over biological drives, directly challenging Freud's instinct theory?
- Melanie Klein
- Karen Horney (Correct answer)
- Anna Freud
- Otto Rank
Correct answer: Karen Horney
Karen Horney argued that neurosis stems from cultural and interpersonal factors, rejecting Freud's emphasis on biological drives.
Question 4: What did Adolf Grünbaum conclude in his 1984 critique of psychoanalysis?
- Psychoanalysis is compatible with neuroscience
- Psychoanalysis meets scientific standards through clinical validation
- Clinical data from the couch cannot confirm psychoanalytic theory (Correct answer)
- Dream analysis is the strongest empirical pillar of psychoanalysis
Correct answer: Clinical data from the couch cannot confirm psychoanalytic theory
Grünbaum argued that clinical evidence from psychoanalytic sessions is fatally contaminated by suggestion, making it insufficient to validate theory.
Question 5: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) challenges psychoanalysis primarily by emphasizing which of the following?
- Unconscious symbolism
- Present-focused, measurable behavioral change (Correct answer)
- Early childhood trauma reconstruction
- Free association techniques
Correct answer: Present-focused, measurable behavioral change
CBT focuses on current thought patterns and measurable outcomes, contrasting with psychoanalysis's focus on unconscious historical material.
Question 6: Which psychologist conducted the 'Little Albert' experiment partly to challenge psychoanalytic interpretations of phobia formation?
- Ivan Pavlov
- B.F. Skinner
- John B. Watson (Correct answer)
- Harry Harlow
Correct answer: John B. Watson
John B. Watson used classical conditioning to induce fear in Little Albert, demonstrating that phobias could be explained without invoking unconscious processes.
Question 7: The 'Dodo Bird Verdict' in psychotherapy research is problematic for psychoanalysis because it suggests what?
- Psychoanalysis is uniquely superior to all other therapies
- All bona fide therapies produce roughly equivalent outcomes (Correct answer)
- Psychoanalysis has no measurable therapeutic effect
- Only biological treatments outperform psychoanalysis
Correct answer: All bona fide therapies produce roughly equivalent outcomes
The Dodo Bird Verdict implies that psychoanalysis holds no special advantage over other therapies, undermining claims of unique theoretical necessity.
Psychoanalysis Criticisms and Alternative Perspectives 2
Which philosopher argued that psychoanalysis is unfalsifiable and therefore not a genuine science?