The Life, Work, and Theories of Sigmund Freud

The Life, Work, and Theories of Sigmund Freud History and Biographies Print The Life, Work, and Theories of Sigmund Freud By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on September 16, 2019 Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images More in Psychology History and Biographies Psychotherapy Basics Student Resources Theories Phobias Emotions Sleep and Dreaming In This Article Table of Contents Expand Freud's Life Freud's Major Theories Freud and Psychoanalysis Freud's Patients Major Works by Freud Freud's Perspectives Those Influenced by Freud View All Back To Top Psychologys most famous figure is also one of the most influential and controversial thinkers of the twentieth century. Sigmund Freuds work and theories helped shape our views of childhood, personality, memory, sexuality, and therapy. Other major thinkers have contributed work that grew out of Freuds legacy, while others developed new theories out of opposition to his ideas. In 2001, Time Magazine referred to Freud as one of the most important thinkers of the last century. A 2006 Newsweek article called him historys most debunked doctor. While his theories have been the subject of considerable controversy and debate, his impact on psychology, therapy, and culture is undeniable. As W.H. Auden wrote in his 1973 poem, In Memory of Sigmund Freud, if often he was wrong and, at times, absurd,to us he is no more a personnow but a whole climate of opinion. A Closer Look at Freuds Life Our exploration of his legacy begins with a look at his life and time. His experiences informed many of his theories, so learning more about his life and the times he lived in can lead to a deeper understanding of where his theory came from. Discover more about his life in this brief biography and timeline of his life, discover some of his most famous quotations, or take an in-depth photo tour of his life from birth to death. Freuds Major Theories Freuds theories were enormously influential, but subject to considerable criticism both now and during his own life. However, his ideas have become interwoven into the fabric of our culture, with terms such as Freudian slip, repression, and denial appearing regularly in everyday language. One of his most enduring ideas is the concept of the unconscious mind, which is a reservoir of thoughts, memories, and emotions that lie outside the awareness of the conscious mind. He also proposed that personality was made up of three key elements, the id, the ego, and the superego. Some other important Freudian theories include his concepts of life and death instincts, the theory of psychosexual development, and the mechanisms of defense.   Freud and Psychoanalysis His ideas had such a strong impact on psychology that an entire school of thought emerged from his work. While it was eventually replaced by the rise of behaviorism, psychoanalysis had a lasting impact on both psychology and psychotherapy. How Psychoanalysis Influenced the Field of Psychology Freuds Patients Throughout Freuds career, a number of his patients helped shape his theories and became well-known in their own right. Anna O, for example, was never actually a patient of Freuds. She was, however, a patient of Freuds colleague Josef Breuer. The two men corresponded often about Anna Os symptoms, eventually publishing a book exploring her case, Studies on Hysteria. It was through their work and correspondence that the technique known as talk therapy emerged.   Anna O. (aka Bertha Pappenheim)Little Hans (Herbert Graf)Dora (Ida Bauer)Rat Man (Ernst Lanzer)Wolf Man (aka Sergei Pankejeff) Major Works by Freud Freuds writings detail many of his major theories and ideas, including his personal favorite, The Interpretation of Dreams. [It] contains...the most valuable of all the discoveries it has been my good fortune to make. Insight such as this falls to ones lot but once in a lifetime, he explained. Some of his major books include: The Interpretation of DreamsThe Psychopathology of Everyday LifeTotem and TabooCivilization and Its DiscontentsThe Future is an Illusion Freuds Perspectives Freud wrote and theorized about a broad range of subjects including sex, dreams, religion, women, and culture. Learn more about some of Freud’s perspectives and how these views influenced his own theories. Freud and WomenFreud and Religion Psychologists Influenced by Freud In addition to his grand and far-reaching theories of human psychology, he also left his mark on a number of individuals who went on to become some of psychologys greatest thinkers. Some of the eminent psychologists who were influenced by Sigmund Freud include: Anna FreudAlfred AdlerCarl JungErik EriksonMelanie KleinErnst JonesOtto Rank While Freuds work is often dismissed today as non-scientific, there is no question that he had a tremendous influence not only on psychology but on the larger culture as well. Many of his ideas have become so steeped in the public awareness that we oftentimes forget that they have their origins in his psychoanalytic tradition.