Life and Influence of Sigmund Freud

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Who was Sigmund Freud? He is most commonly known as the father of psychoanalysis. His work sparked a chain of thinkers who can still be found today. The modern views on the brain and its workings can be traced back to Freud. How did he achieve such an accredited title and reputation? What influenced him? These questions can be answered through a look at Freud's childhood, adult life, and death. Sigmund Freud is known to us by his birth name, however his mother lovingly called him her “golden boy Ziggy” (Davidoff 32). He was the first born of his mother, Amalie, and the third child of his father Jacob. He was born in Freiberg, Moravia in the year of 1856. He grew up in a bourgeois family. He is recorded as playing in the gardens …show more content…

He began his university studies at the University of Vienna in 1873. He was enrolled in medical school, but focused his attention on biology (Thornton par. 3). Between the years 1885 and 1886, Freud spent his time in Paris. He was amazed by the work of Jean Charcot and his hypnotism. However, once back in Vienna, he discovered that the effects of hypnotism did not last long. He worked with Josef Breuer and together they discovered that neuroses were caused by traumatic experiences. They tried to find way to bring out these experiences in their patients, hoping to cure them. They published their finding under the title, Studies in Hysteria (1895). Freud and Breuer soon parted, due to Breuer not agreeing with Freud’s belief on sexual origins. Freud believed sexual desires and instincts drove people to think and act they way they do (McLeod par. 2) Freud's theories were not received well by society until 1908. After he was invited to teach courses in the United States, he gained the reputation he is known for today (Thornton par. 6). He developed psychoanalysis as a new science. Freud's successful and, appearance wise, happy career contrasted against his personal

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