QUANTITATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY-RESEARCH - A M ODERN PARADIGM OR A POTEMKIN VILLAGE

In Germany psychoanalysis faces problems concerning its legitimation a s a science and a profession because in psychotherapy research and inc reasingly by psychoanalysts as well 'science' is equated with the appl ication of the methods of nomological psychology. Against this fashion major weaknesses of the nomological paradigm are discussed. Its epist emologic foundations are very poor; they refer to a view of physics at the beginning of the century, which is quite out-date. In contrast co ntemporary discussions on 'reasons' and 'causes' in analytic philosoph y are mentioned. The fragmentation of nomological theories, their evid ently difficult connection to practical knowledge as well as the negle ct of ethical issues are more extensively described. It is stated that just now developments in nomological psychology are emerging which te nd to rehabilitate psychoanalysis as scientific.