Final answer:
Psychoanalysis, according to Freud, is effective because it helps individuals gain insight into their unconscious, thereby allowing them to resolve internal conflicts and alleviate psychological problems.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Freud, psychoanalysis works because once a person gains insight into his or her own unconscious, conflicts can be resolved. Freud's view was that the unconscious mind stores repressed memories and desires that can lead to inner conflict, which in turn may manifest as psychological problems. The process of psychoanalysis entails the patient talking about their experiences, which facilitates the surfacing of these unconscious elements. By bringing the unconscious material into the conscious mind through techniques such as dream analysis and free association, individuals can begin to resolve these conflicts and, consequently, alleviate their psychological distress.