Freud's Contributions To The Field of Psychology

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Sigmund Freud was a pioneer within the field of psychology who developed multiple theories that introduced the world to the inner meanings of the human unconscious. He created the theory of psychoanalysis, which allowed him to enter the world of the unconscious mind. He also proposed that humans go through a transition of various psychosexual stages, each level containing a different drive and desire. These urges were governed by the three components of the mind: the id, the ego, and the superego. He also believed that humans create defense mechanisms in order to drive away anxiety, guilt, and depression. However, he believed his greatest work resided within his interpretation of dreams through a method he called dream analysis. Each aspect of his studies and theories attempt to identify the reason behind human behavior. Freud graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Vienna, Austria. Soon after, he mapped the geography of the human psyche, and began working with severely disturbed patients. Through extremely intense self-analysis, Freud concurred that repressed desires were the source of emotional disturbances. He then developed psychoanalysis, a method of bringing these repressed desires to the conscious level. In order to evoke these hidden, unconscious desires, Freud used dream analysis and free association. He believed dreams were the royal road to the unconscious, and through the interpretation of its contents, repressed desires can be brought to surface. Free association was a therapeutic technique in which the patient would spontaneously verbalize thoughts in an atmosphere that was open and non-judgmental. It was Freud’s belief that the patient would begin to self-analyze, and ultimately ident... ... middle of paper ... ...- Complete Guide to Psychology for Students, Educators & Enthusiasts. Web. 15 Oct 2011. . Cherry, Kendra. "Id, Ego and Superego - Learn About the Id, Ego and Superego." Psychology - Complete Guide to Psychology for Students, Educators & Enthusiasts. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. . Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition. Modernism, Globalism and the Information Age. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print. "Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital." Wilderdom - a Project in Natural Living & Transformation. Web. 05 Aug. 2010. .

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