The Psychology of Women

Abstract

This paper reviews some of the major theoretical perspectives and recent data pertaining to the psychology of women. In the first section, the author presents classical psychoanalytic theory and reviews the reconsiderations and critiques which were important factors from the early history of psychoanalysis, and continue today. The second section considers whether there are sex differences in psychopathology and, after concluding that there is evidence for this conclusion in some areas, the author presents the various arguments which have been constructed to explain these observations. The final section discusses implications for psychotherapeutic interventions with women. The questions of whether there are benefits or problems in choosing male versus female therapists, and the special aspects of treating women in a current socio-cultural context are elucidated.