Sigmund Freud :: essays research papers

Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud, an Austrian born during the Habsburg Monarchy, was one ofthe trailblazers of modern-day psychology. The american historiam williamjohnston sees freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, among those personalities"that one made austria a shining example of modernism in a world that had lostorientation."In his function as a neuropathologist freud came to realize that he hadno clear intellect of neurotic patterns disdain his throrough studies of thehuman brain. From 1895 onwards he associated intensely with the Vienneseinternist Josef Breuer. Both discovered that hypnosis removed neurotic symptons.The case of patient Anna O. became famous.By applying this method, Freud came to understand the correlational statisticsbetween steamy disorders and the formation of mental (at that time mainlyhysterical) symptoms. by dint of hypnosis as a method of "mental catharsis" thepatient recalls and relives repressed traumatic situations and is eventuall yrelieved and healed. Freud was now convinced that functional diseases had amental cause. In the following he discovered how mental energies whitethorn casuephysical symptoms.After breaking with Breuer Freid found out that the abnormal emotionalstate of neurotics was almost invariably associated with conflicts involving the internal impulse. Based on these findings he develoepd his theory on repressionand defense as well as the sexual aspect of neurotic behaviour.Freud was unjustly blamed with "pansexualism". His theories created astorm in meical circles and were often and heavily rejected. However, whatFreud had theoretically taught most of his life was rather a "dialectic of thesexual impulse" than its omnipotence. After breaking with Breuer Freud carriedon his investigate work alone. Instead of hypnosis he applied the method of "free connector" with his patients and soon recognized the traumtic impact of earlysexual experience during childhood, seducation s on the part of adults, above allthe parents.In 1877, suffering from his own neurotic crisis, Freud discovered in abrave self-analysis that patients fantasies and wishful persuasion rather thanreal experiences play an unconscious role in the flak of neuroses. Freudsfindings broke new ground in often misinterpreted areas like immature sexualityand led to a completely new and expanded understanding of sexuality. Hisepochal achievement was to help prove the existence of the psyche as anindependent system. In "Traumdeutung"/"The interpretation of dreams" publishedin 1900, freud inveiled the dream as a disguised fulfillment of repressed wishes.Within the European finis and civilization was a sensational dsclosure ofFreuds (sometimes also personal) fight for self-realization and truth.With his thoughts, Frued not only influenced psychology but also moderntimes conception ofthe world. His principles move on the technique ofpsychoanalysis, with himself as his first pati ent.