General introduction to the psychotherapy of Pierre Janet

This article deals with Pierre Janet's concept of "Psychological Analysis" (analyse psychologique). It brings out Janet's criticism of Sigmund Freud's ideas, and delineates the difference between psychological analysis (Janet ) and psychoanalysis (Freud). Further it points out that Janet's theories o n the pathogenesis of neurotic disorders rely on the concept of psychic tra uma and associated fixed ideas. Mental force and mental tension, described in greater detail, are essential for the pathogenesis of mental disorders. According to Janet, a significant characteristic of the neurotically distur bed person is a feature that Von Gebsattel calls "Werdenshemmung" ("inhibit ion of becoming"), a stare which impairs the life development of the ill pe rson.