Historian Frank Sulloway's documentation of Freud's early work reveals that psychoanalytic techniques were initially designed as a clinical treatment ...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Historian Frank Sulloway's documentation of Freud's early work reveals that psychoanalytic techniques were initially designed as a clinical treatment for hysteria in Victorian women rather than as a broad psychological framework. The transformation of these specific therapeutic methods into what is now recognized as a comprehensive approach to understanding human behavior and mental processes occurred through a different trajectory entirely. Freud's followers and subsequent interpreters, motivated by their desire to establish a unified psychological paradigm, systematically expanded his clinical observations into sweeping theoretical principles that extended far beyond the original therapeutic context.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Psychoanalysis became widely known as a comprehensive psychological theory not because of its scope in Freud's original work but because later practitioners expanded it beyond its initial clinical purpose.
While Freud developed psychoanalysis to treat hysteria in Victorian women, the theory proved to be a robust framework that his followers recognized could explain broader aspects of human psychology.
Freud's psychoanalytic theory was intended as a specific treatment for hysteria, but it has been misinterpreted by later practitioners as a general model of human behavior and mental processes.
The influence of Freud's psychoanalytic theory stems from its effectiveness as a clinical method for treating hysteria, though it was later adapted by his followers for broader psychological applications.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Historian Frank Sulloway's documentation of Freud's early work reveals that psychoanalytic techniques were initially designed as a clinical treatment for hysteria in Victorian women rather than as a broad psychological framework." |
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| "The transformation of these specific therapeutic methods into what is now recognized as a comprehensive approach to understanding human behavior and mental processes occurred through a different trajectory entirely." |
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| "Freud's followers and subsequent interpreters, motivated by their desire to establish a unified psychological paradigm, systematically expanded his clinical observations into sweeping theoretical principles that extended far beyond the original therapeutic context." |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Psychoanalysis became a comprehensive psychological theory not through Freud's original design, but because his followers systematically expanded his specific clinical methods beyond their intended therapeutic purpose.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer must capture three key elements:
- Psychoanalysis originally had a specific, limited clinical purpose (treating hysteria)
- It became known as a comprehensive psychological theory
- This transformation happened because of later practitioners/followers, not because of Freud's original vision
Psychoanalysis became widely known as a comprehensive psychological theory not because of its scope in Freud's original work but because later practitioners expanded it beyond its initial clinical purpose.
✓ Correct
- Correctly states that psychoanalysis became comprehensive "not because of its scope in Freud's original work" and identifies that "later practitioners expanded it beyond its initial clinical purpose."
- This matches our passage analysis perfectly.
While Freud developed psychoanalysis to treat hysteria in Victorian women, the theory proved to be a robust framework that his followers recognized could explain broader aspects of human psychology.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the theory "proved to be a robust framework that his followers recognized."
- This suggests the theory naturally showed its broader potential, but our passage says the expansion happened because followers wanted a unified paradigm, not because they recognized inherent robustness.
Freud's psychoanalytic theory was intended as a specific treatment for hysteria, but it has been misinterpreted by later practitioners as a general model of human behavior and mental processes.
✗ Incorrect
- Uses the word "misinterpreted," suggesting the followers got it wrong.
- The passage doesn't indicate the expansion was a misinterpretation - it was a deliberate, systematic effort to create a unified paradigm.
The influence of Freud's psychoanalytic theory stems from its effectiveness as a clinical method for treating hysteria, though it was later adapted by his followers for broader psychological applications.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims psychoanalysis's influence "stems from its effectiveness as a clinical method."
- The passage doesn't discuss the theory's influence or attribute it to clinical effectiveness.