Sunday, October 13, 2019
Discuss Some Of The Main Ideas Essay -- essays research papers fc
Sigmund Freud considered himself a scientist whose intention was to find a physiological and materialist basis for his theories of the psyche. Freud revolutionised the way in which we think about ourselves. From its beginnings as a theory of neurosis, Freud founded and developed psychoanalysis into a general psychology, which became widely accepted as the predominant mode of discussing personality, behaviour and interpersonal relationships. Freud, who had been studying neuropathology, left Vienna in 1885 to continue his studies in Paris under the guidance of Jean Martin Charcot. This proved to be the turning point in his career, for Charcot’s work with patients classified as â€Å"hysterics†introduced Freud to the possibility that psychological disorders might have their source in the mind rather than the brain. Charcot’s hypnotic experiments demonstrated the link between hysterical symptoms such as paralysis of a limb and hypnotic suggestions to cure the paralysis. Although Freud later abandoned his faith in hypnosis, hypnotic experiments taught Freud that mental processes that took place unconsciously could have a powerful effect on behaviour. It was Freud who drew our attention to the unconscious mind. If we liken the mind to an iceberg, the nine tenths below the surface is the unconscious in which there are many mental processes going on that we have little control of. Our conscious mind is above the surface; it is what we are fully aware of and contains our perception, thought and memory. Freud also spoke of the preconscious which might include material put out of our conscious mind but which may be retrievable. Freudian psychoanalytical theory states that there are three agencies of the human personality. Below the surface is our â€Å"id†, these are our social and biological instincts such as hunger, thirst and self-preservation. The id seeks outlet in the pleasure principal with no regard to reality. It is our awareness of the outside world, our memory, perception and learning. The â€Å"Ego†develops to harmonise the impulses of the id with the demands of reality. It is our awareness of the outside world, our memory, perception and learning. The â€Å"super ego†develops later in varying degrees. It is like a conscience and brings in values and morals from parents and society and enables us to feel guilt. Freud grouped together ego and sexual instincts calling ... ...iar to most of us today. Psychoanalysis is a term that Freud coined in 1896. As a therapist he used mental rather than physical means to achieve behavioural or attitudinal change. One of Freud’s greatest achievements was his capacity to stimulate the creativity of others and his ideas have been developed by his many followers. Where Freud was perhaps wrong was in making psychosexual development so central that all other forms of social and emotional development were conceived as being derived from it. However, despite repeated criticism and attempted refutations of Freud’s work, his ideas remained powerful well after his death and the general way in which psychoanalysis and other forms of psychotherapy are conducted is still based on Freud’s procedure, and remains one of his most enduring legacies. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Storr A          1996     â€Å"Freud†               Oxford University Press Stevens R     1994     â€Å"Freud and Psychoanalysis†     Open University Press
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