Freud and 19th century malaise In the Foreword of Roberto Harrari’s Lacan’s Seminar on “anxiety”: an introduction, Charles Shepherdson asserts that Freud’s concept of anxiety changes throughout the course of his work (viii). In 1884, Freud’s first theory on the subject sustains that anxiety is the result of an unconscious repression of the sexual libido, or “the surplus of unutilized libido” (Freud xix). However, by 1926, Freud reverses the two, arguing that anxiety arises as a response to a perceived danger rather than as the result of repressed sexual tension. In his work Inhibitions, Symptoms, and Anxiety Freud writes: “it was anxiety which produced repression, and not, as I formerly believed, repression which produced anxiety.” In Freud’s account, the …show more content…
To further support this point, Freud distinguishes anxiety from fear by defining anxiety as a mode of distressed anticipation. Anxiety can also be the reaction to the felt loss or separation of an object. The idea of “loss” is applicable to multiple aspects, for example: the loss of a mother, love, and castration – or the loss of the sexual organs. The potential of losing something cherished is enough to spark anxiety. However, to avoid confusion, Freud classifies anxiety into three distinct categories. Shepherdson explains Freud’s conceps by stating that Realangst, or real anxiety, is the feeling that arises from being exposed to a situation that threatens someone’s safety (xxxiv). This is the only form of anxiety which is necessary for survival. The other two types are forms of neurotic anxiety since it disturbs the individual’s psyche. Automastische Angst arises during traumatic situations not because there is a real physical danger present but because the individual feels threatened in some way. (Shepherdson xxxv). Freud’s last term, Angstsignal, arises as an anticipation of a threat. This form, doesn’t arise during an actual, present experience but it is rather the indication
In “The Neuro-Psychoses of Defense”, Freud introduces his study of defense mechanisms. Freud defines a defense mechanism in psychoanalysis as a “defensive mechanism developed by the ego under pressure of the superego and external reality that allows us to fight anxiety”. Some examples of Freudian defenses that are still accepted today include repression, denial, projection, displacement, and regression. Anna Freud and other psychologist’s elaborated on the concept. Defense mechanisms are an essential component in modern clinical psychology, as “no mental status or clinical formulation should be considered complete without an effort to identify a patient’s dominant defense mechanism” (3). Defense mechanisms are today grouped into Narcissistic, Anxiety, Immature, and Mature. The use of Narcissistic, Anxiety and Immature defense mechanisms are considered less healthy than Mature defenses and are often used by emotionally unstable individuals in order to cope with stress. Mature defenses ‘result in optimal
The. Freud, S., 1962. Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality. New York: Basic Books, Inc. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Malady or Myth?
In modern times humans have become susceptible to psychological illnesses. Nietzsche and Freud both give different explanations as to where the illnesses originate from. Freud blames our libido and its erotic appetite that goes against current standards for the illness. While Nietzsche blames the slave revolt of morality for stopping us from acting out on our animal impulse. Both illnesses are quite similar since they appear to have the same origin as one another.
Stone, D. (2011, May 8). Psychological Musings: Historical Perspectives of Abnormal Psychology. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://psychological-musings.blogspot.com/2011/05/historical-perspectives-of-abnormal.html
Freudian psychoanalysis distinguished three types of anxiety, - objective anxiety, neurotic anxiety, and moral anxiety. It is the ego's job to deal with anxiety (Hergenhahn, 2009). Freud's theories emphasize on sex as the main motive for human behavior, therefore a Freudian psychoanalysis therapist may attribute origin of the person’s anxiety to sex oriented issues such as sexual relationship, conflicts, and abuse, etc. The role of Freudian psychoanalysis therapist is to encourage patients to focus on affect and the expression of emotion and to explore their attempts to avoid distressing thoughts and feelings. One technique of Freudian psychotherapy is free association which means that patients are encouraged to recall and talk about their
Sigmund Freud’s theories on the construction of the mind are simple, but fundamentally changed the field of psychology. He proposed, among other things, that the human mind is composed of three parts: the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. The preconscious consists of information, such as a telephone number, that is “accessible to consciousness without emotional resistance” (Schellenberg 21). In Freud’s estimation, the unconscious is the most important area of the mind. The information stored within it has “very strong resistances” to becoming conscious (Freud 32). Residing in the unconscious is the id, which “contains everything…that is present at birth… – above all, therefore, the instincts which originate from somatic organization” (14). From birth, all action is instinctual, from the id. The id recognizes and entertains no desires but its own and is impatient to have its needs met. This phase lasts until a part of the id changes “under the influence of the real external world” (14). This changed portion b...
Freud studied and wrote several theories on neurosis and the use of psycho-analysis as a form of therapy. Freud said that there were several forms in which neurosis appears, including repression, regression, and fixation. Freud felt that in order "to effect a cure, he must facilitate the patient himself to become conscious of unresolved conflicts buried in the deep recesses of the unconscious mind, and to confront and engage with them directly" (Thornton).
--------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] J.H.Newman ‘Difficulties of Anglicans’ Vol. 2, London 1891 pp. 246-7 [2] Sigmund Freud. Trans Strachey ‘An outline of Psychoanalysis’. Hogarth Press: 1949 pps.
In addition to Freud’s stages of development his best-known concepts are those of the id, ego, and superego (Crain, p. 268). The id personality called ‘the unconscious” is the personality that focuses on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain through reflexes and drives such as hunger or bladder tensions (Crain, pp. 268-269). The id concept is impulsive, chaotic and unrealistic.
The theory of psychoanalysis, founded by Freud, asserted that people could be cured by “…making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations…”, therefore gaining insight into their behavior and state of being (CITE). The aim of psychoanalytic therapy is to release repressed emotions and experiences, because Freud believed that psychological problems are rooted in the unconscious mind. In certain cases, individuals would have manifested symptoms caused by “…latent…”, or hidden disturbances (CITE). Typical causes could include unresolved issues during development or as a result of repressed trauma. Those who practice psychoanalysis believe that only with a cathartic experience can be the person be helped and therefore cured. In other words, , Freud’s treatment focused on bringing the repressed conflict to consciousness, where the patent then could wo...
Sigmund Freud in the late 19th century the validity of recovered memories has been hotly debated by the psychoanalytic community. Recovered memories are forgotten memories of traumatic experiences we remember later on in life often by psychoanalysis or psychotherapy that can lead to the possible creation of a pseudomemory. Freud believed that these recovered memories of possible sexual abuse were the solution of problems of the origin of hysteria and obsessional neurosis (1), this is stated in “Seduction Theory” a hypothesis suggested by Freud himself. Seduction Theory, a hypothesis suggested by Freud stated “A repressed memory of an early childhood sexual abuse or molestation experience was the essential precondition for hysterical or obsessive symptoms with the addition of an active sexual experience up to the age of eight”(1). This theory was abandoned after only a year after proposing it, as a result of coming to terms with the fact that the memories of his patients were predominantly false, and could have been caused by the suggestive methods he used in their psychoanalytical therapy. Freud’s first case in the study of recovered memories was of Miss G. de B, she came to him at the suggestion of her cousin with a stuttering speech, and after psychoanalysis lead Freud to proclaim that she had been sexually abused by her father despite the fact she had no recollection of such events taking place, at first she whole heartedly believed him until
Sigmund Freud was an Austrian psychoanalyst in the twentieth century whose studies and interests were focused on psychosexual behavior, psychosocial behavior, and the unconscious. He blames incestual desires and acts on neurosis and believes neurotics were victimized and molested in their youth. Congruently, this is his explanation for sexual urges in children. He watched psychiatrists fail at inventions of electrical and chemical treatments for mental disorders, only for them to turn to treatments that followed concepts of psychoanalysis. Even though drugs diminish symptoms of suffering he believed psychoanalytic or talking therapy would truly restore a patient’s self-esteem and welfare. As quoted by Ernst G. Beier:
The aim of this essay is to clarify the basic principles of Freud’s theories and to raise the main issues.
There have been many theorist in psychology such as Erik Erickson, Gordon Allport, and Raymond Cattell, among others. They have all made significant contributions to psychology and understanding human behavior. However, two theorist have distinguished themselves over the rest of them. Sigmund Freud is known as the father of psychoanalysis. He developed numerous theories to facilitate the understanding of the different stages humans go through. As well as Freud, Karen Horney also created her own theories. Her theories were relatively similar to Freud’s, however, they also have their differences. It is essential to have general knowledge of their background and to understand both of their theories before we begin contrasting them.
Throughout Freud’s time, he came up with many different theories. One of his theories was Life and Death Instincts. This theory evolved throughout his life and work. He believed that these drives were responsible for much of behavior. He eventually came to believe that these life instincts alone couldn’t explain all human behavior. Freud then determined that all instincts fall into one of 2 major classes: the life instincts or the death instincts. Life instincts deal with basic survival, reproduction, and pleasure. Death instincts are apparent after people experience a traumatic event and they often reenact the experience. In Freud’s view, self-destructive behavior is an expression of the energy that is created by the death instincts.