This article argues that psychoanalysis is a scientifically testable model of human behavior and that at least one research program, "subliminal psychodynamic activation," has provided support for certain key psychoanalytic propositions. We begin with an attempt to demonstrate the logical feasibility, and even necessity, of testing psychoanalytic propositions in a controlled, extra-clinical setting, followed by a brief explication of the theoretical importance of three types of psychoanalytic propositions. A short history of experimental attempts to demonstrate unconscious influence is then sketched, but the bulk of the article is devoted to reviewing subliminal psychodynamic activation research. We argue that, although gaps remain, the fruits of this research provide support for key psychoanalytic propositions.
THE SCIENTIFIC STATUS OF PSYCHOANALYSISIt has often been argued that psychoanalytic theory and its constituent propositions are not amenable to scientific inquiry, either because they are ". . . simply not testable, irrefutable" (Popper, 1962, p. 37) or because "the naturalscience framework is inappropriate to the data of psychoanalysis" (Gill, 1976, p. 91). The first charge-that psychoanalytic propositions are not posed in a Requests for reprints should be sent to