Frames of reference in psychoanalytic psychology. II. The historical context and phases in the development of psychoanalysis.

Abstract

We remarked in an earlier paper (Sandler, Dare & Holder, 1972) that ‘Towards the end of the second phase certain inconsistencies began to be apparent in Freud's view of the mental apparatus and its functioning'. These inconsistencies, which rendered the use of the topographical model difficult and limited its clinical application, will be discussed below under several different headings. They have been devised with the advantages of the hindsight afforded by the development of psychoanalysis over more than half a century since the structural model was introduced (Freud, 1923). While limitations of the topographical model are pointed out in this paper, we would like to underline the fact that the model was not completely replaced by the structural model of the third phase of psychoanalysis. It has continued to be applied where appropriate or convenient.