Recognizing that principles of psychoanalytic technique and conceptions of the analytic treatment process follow from the theory of therapeutic action to which they are linked, the author notes the difficulty of coming up with such a theory in relation to modern conflict theory. After reviewing Freud's initial descriptions of psychoanalytic theory and technique, as well as his later elaborations and modifications, the author summarizes the contributions of Freud's analytic contemporaries and traces the emergence of later theoretical variability in the field. He then presents an overview of recent developments in the theory of therapeutic action, discussing in particular the contributions of Arlow, Brenner, and Gray.