<p>In the context of the question I think it makes sense to limit the scope to earlier developments in psychoanalysis. Thompson (1957) gives an overview of what can be called <strong><em>psychoanalytic schools</em></strong>. She includes:</p>

<ul>
<li>Freudian psychoanalysis</li>
<li>Individual psychology (Alfred Adler)</li>
<li>Analytical psychology (Carl Gustav Jung)</li>
<li>Object relations theory (Sándor Ferenczi, Otto Rank)</li>
<li>(Wilhelm Reich)</li>
<li>Karen Horney (sometimes denoted »Culturalist Psychoanaysis«)</li>
<li>Erich Fromm (sometimes denoted »Culturalist Psychoanaysis«)</li>
<li>Harry Stack Sullivan (sometimes denoted »Culturalist Psychoanaysis«)</li>
</ul>

<p>On the other hand, several <strong><em>psychoanalytic psychologies</em></strong> can be distinguished. Following a systematization by Gottfried Fischer, there are:</p>

<ul>
<li>Drive theory/drive psychology (psychodynamic theory)</li>
<li>Ego psychology (Freudian psychoanalytic psychology/structural theory)</li>
<li>Object relations theory</li>
<li>Self psychology</li>
</ul>

<p>Newer psychoanalytic schools comprise e. g. Lacanian psychoanalysis, interpersonal psychoanalysis and relational psychoanalysis – but for a more comprehensive list see Kernberg (2001) and Gabbard (2009).</p>

<hr>

<p>Literature:</p>

<ul>
<li>Frosh, Stephen (2012). A Brief Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory. London: Palgrave.</li>
<li>Gabbard, Glen O. (2009) Textbook of Psychotherapeutic Treatments. American Psychiatric Publishing. (Ch. 1: Theoretical Models of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy)</li>
<li>Kernberg, Otto F. (2001). Recent Developments in the Technical Approaches of English-Language Psychoanalytic Schools. The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, Volume LXX, Issue 3, 519–547.</li>
<li>Thompson, Clara Mabel (1957). The different schools of psychoanalysis. American Journal of Nursing, 57, 1304–1307.</li>
<li>Thompson, Clara Mabel &amp; Mullahy, Patrick (1951). Psychoanalysis: Evolution and Development (3rd ed.). New York: Hermitage House.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-29T17:29:46.513Z
2016-04-01T07:32:18.927Z
2016-04-01T07:32:18.927Z
huh
<p>I am trying to make a list of the main accepted branches of psychoanalysis to quiz a friend of mine. I don't know much about it and to learn more I need to know the main areas. So far I have </p>

<ul>
<li>Freudian Psychology</li>
<li>Object Relations Theory</li>
<li>Relations Theory </li>
<li>Self-psychology </li>
</ul>

<p>Does anyone know of a basic list of the main branches? My friend said these were the main ones, but I couldn't find a source to substantiate that and I want to verify these are indeed considered the main branches. </p>

<p>EDIT: 
By a "branch" or "school", I mean a general umbrella term people use to aggregate related trains of thought. In physics, this might be "general relativity" or "quantum mechanics". </p>

<psychoanalysis>
What are the different branches of Psychoanalysis?
Stan Shunpike
# What are the different branches of Psychoanalysis?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-26)

I am trying to make a list of the main accepted branches of psychoanalysis to quiz a friend of mine. I don't know much about it and to learn more I need to know the main areas. So far I have

* Freudian Psychology
* Object Relations Theory
* Relations Theory
* Self-psychology

Does anyone know of a basic list of the main branches? My friend said these were the main ones, but I couldn't find a source to substantiate that and I want to verify these are indeed considered the main branches.

EDIT:
By a "branch" or "school", I mean a general umbrella term people use to aggregate related trains of thought. In physics, this might be "general relativity" or "quantum mechanics".

**Tags:** psychoanalysis


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-03-29. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

In the context of the question I think it makes sense to limit the scope to earlier developments in psychoanalysis. Thompson (1957) gives an overview of what can be called ***psychoanalytic schools***. She includes:

* Freudian psychoanalysis
* Individual psychology (Alfred Adler)
* Analytical psychology (Carl Gustav Jung)
* Object relations theory (Sándor Ferenczi, Otto Rank)
* (Wilhelm Reich)
* Karen Horney (sometimes denoted »Culturalist Psychoanaysis«)
* Erich Fromm (sometimes denoted »Culturalist Psychoanaysis«)
* Harry Stack Sullivan (sometimes denoted »Culturalist Psychoanaysis«)

On the other hand, several ***psychoanalytic psychologies*** can be distinguished. Following a systematization by Gottfried Fischer, there are:

* Drive theory/drive psychology (psychodynamic theory)
* Ego psychology (Freudian psychoanalytic psychology/structural theory)
* Object relations theory
* Self psychology

Newer psychoanalytic schools comprise e. g. Lacanian psychoanalysis, interpersonal psychoanalysis and relational psychoanalysis – but for a more comprehensive list see Kernberg (2001) and Gabbard (2009).

---

Literature:

* Frosh, Stephen (2012). A Brief Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory. London: Palgrave.
* Gabbard, Glen O. (2009) Textbook of Psychotherapeutic Treatments. American Psychiatric Publishing. (Ch. 1: Theoretical Models of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy)
* Kernberg, Otto F. (2001). Recent Developments in the Technical Approaches of English-Language Psychoanalytic Schools. The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, Volume LXX, Issue 3, 519–547.
* Thompson, Clara Mabel (1957). The different schools of psychoanalysis. American Journal of Nursing, 57, 1304–1307.
* Thompson, Clara Mabel & Mullahy, Patrick (1951). Psychoanalysis: Evolution and Development (3rd ed.). New York: Hermitage House.


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