Psychoanalysis Essays - Freudian Psychology, Sigmund Freud

Psychoanalysis: Sigmund Freud was the first to developed the idea of psychoanalysis. Many physicians at that time turned down Freud's idea, that one could have mental and physical problems which dwelled from deep with in a person. However, Freud continued his studies, and has contributed a lot to the world of psychology. Freud has shown the world that the mind is a powerful tool, and he also proved that physical illness could be a link to mental thoughts. (Hacker) Since Freud's success in psychology, psychoanalysis has become a an important topic to psychology. In the 1890's, psycholoanalysis developed from a Viennese physician named Sigmund Freud. (Grolier) Freud, along with his followers used psychoanalysis to branch off into the world of psychology. The definition of psychoanalysis can best be defined as"emphasizing the roles of unconscious mental forces and conflicts in determining behavior." (Wood 27) The main branch of psychology is "normal thinking" of the mind. Freud thought that many of our problems lived inside of our unconsciousness and we where not aware of this. It is a body of knowledge which sets apart from the traditional psychology, psychotherapy, and also psychopathology. (Funk & Wagnall Encyclopedia) In psychology, these deal more with religion, education, mythology, and with life in general. Freud's idea of psychoanalysis, deals more with the conflict that our minds encounter. Freud believed in three types of related activities they are; a method of research into the minds of humans, especially inner experiences which holds our dreams, fantasies, feelings, thoughts and emotions. Also, a great deal of knowledge of the mind, and its functions, and a system of treatment of emotional and psychological disorders. (Grolier) In Freud's psychoanalysis, Freud believed that all humans were born with instincts which drives a person to act the way in which they do. There are two classifications for this they are: the libido, this is based on sexual pleasures, and the second type is called aggression this motivates the behavior. This type of thinking happens from the time a person is born, according to Freud. When growing up, the child will go though three different libidinal stages. The first is called the oral stage, in this stage the infant takes his or her thumb and stimulates the mouth with it, we may know this act as the baby sucking his or her thumb. The second stage of libidinal is the anal stage. In this stage, pleasures like the ones in the oral stage are similar. These pleasures are repeated through pleasures to the anus. The bowel movements mark this pleasure. The final stage in the libidinal stages of a child is the phallic stage. This is done when the child manipulates their genitalia in order for gratification. (Grolier) Freud thought that a child in the phallic stage, had a strong attraction to the parent of the opposite sex. He called this Oedipus Complex. (Encarta) Most people throughout the world turned against this idea of Freuds. which was the attraction to the parent of the opposite sex. According to Freud, the child is taught to turn against those feelings and desires which then fall into their unconscious minds. This leads to three defense mechanisms of the mind in the Freudian theory. The first one is the ID, this is "the unconscious system of the personality, which contains the life and death instincts and operates only on the pleasure principle." (Wood 432) The second is known as the Ego, "in Freudian theory, the rational, largely conscious system of personality, which operates according to the reality principle." (Wood 432) The last and final stage in the libido Freudian theory is the Superego. By definition the Superego can best be defined as "the moral system of the personality, which consists of the conscience and the ego ideal." (Wood 432) They according to Freud, all function together. When the Id, Ego, and Superego clash, a problem can occur. What can happen is a person can have nightmares or a slip of the tongue can happen. When a traumatic event takes place, the Id, Ego and Superego become significantly out of balance. If this should occur, then a psychological disorder is present. The psychological disorder includes: depression, anxiety, hysteria, and phobias. This is known as psychoneurotic theory. (Frank) Hysteria was called the first application of psychoanalytical treatment back then. Hysteria today is referred to as a conversion disorder. This sickness can intrude on a completely healthy person. The symptoms include numbness or paralysis of limbs, blindness or laryngitis. (Funk and Wagnall Encyclopedia) In Freud's theory of psychoanalysis, he