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Some preliminary notes on an empirical test of Freud’s theory on depression

Mattias Desmet (UGent)
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Abstract
A review of the literature indicates that empirical researchers have difficulty translating Freud’s theory on depression into appropriate research questions and hypotheses. In their attempt to do so, the level of complexity in Freud’s work is often lost. As a result, what is empirically tested is no more than a caricature of the original theory. To help researchers avoid such problems, this study presents a conceptual analysis of Freud’s theory of depression as it is presented in Mourning and Melancholia (Freud, 1917). In analyzing Freud’s theory on the etiology of depression, it is essential to differentiate between (1) an identification with the satisfying and frustrating aspects of the love object, (2) the inter- and an intrapersonal loss of the love object, and (3) conscious and unconscious dynamics. A schematic representation of the mechanism of depression is put forward and a research design by which this schema can be empirically investigated is outlined.
Keywords
narcissistic identification, depression, conceptual analysis, mourning and melancholia

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Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
Desmet, Mattias. “Some Preliminary Notes on an Empirical Test of Freud’s Theory on Depression.” FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 4, 2013, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00158.
APA
Desmet, M. (2013). Some preliminary notes on an empirical test of Freud’s theory on depression. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00158
Chicago author-date
Desmet, Mattias. 2013. “Some Preliminary Notes on an Empirical Test of Freud’s Theory on Depression.” FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00158.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Desmet, Mattias. 2013. “Some Preliminary Notes on an Empirical Test of Freud’s Theory on Depression.” FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY 4. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00158.
Vancouver
1.
Desmet M. Some preliminary notes on an empirical test of Freud’s theory on depression. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY. 2013;4.
IEEE
[1]
M. Desmet, “Some preliminary notes on an empirical test of Freud’s theory on depression,” FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 4, 2013.
@article{5645081,
  abstract     = {{A review of the literature indicates that empirical researchers have difficulty translating Freud’s theory on depression into appropriate research questions and hypotheses. In their attempt to do so, the level of complexity in Freud’s work is often lost. As a result, what is empirically tested is no more than a caricature of the original theory. To help researchers avoid such problems, this study presents a conceptual analysis of Freud’s theory of depression as it is presented in Mourning and Melancholia (Freud, 1917). In analyzing Freud’s theory on the etiology of depression, it is essential to differentiate between (1) an identification with the satisfying and frustrating aspects of the love object, (2) the inter- and an intrapersonal loss of the love object, and (3) conscious and unconscious dynamics. A schematic representation of the mechanism of depression is put forward and a research design by which this schema can be empirically investigated is outlined.}},
  articleno    = {{158}},
  author       = {{Desmet, Mattias}},
  issn         = {{1664-1078}},
  journal      = {{FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY}},
  keywords     = {{narcissistic identification,depression,conceptual analysis,mourning and melancholia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{7}},
  title        = {{Some preliminary notes on an empirical test of Freud’s theory on depression}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00158}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}

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