To Measure or Not to Measure: Existential Maturation as a Case in Point

Research in psychoanalysis can seem to be a controversial matter, there being some inherent epistemological issues in the subject matter. This paper takes the view that methodological solutions exist that start with tailored-to-psychoanalysis approaches to discern dynamic phenomena before moving to empirical study designs. It addresses some unique requirements for research that arise from the nature of psychoanalysis and describes some empirical methods that then become suitable. Using the theme of this issue, metabolizing mortality, as an example, the paper describes how we used the Three Layer Model Method developed by Ricardo Bernardi both to develop the existential maturation model (described elsewhere in this issue) and to bridge from there to empirical measurement research. It goes on to describe early steps in this measurement research followed by future possible steps (Bernardi, 2014; Galatzer-Levy, 2026 this issue; Emanuel, 2026 this issue).