Sigmund Freud And His Theories - 3798 Words

Abstract Sigmund Freud is generally considered to be one of the most revolutionary psychologists of the past two centuries, but many of his theories have been put under scrutiny as further developments and critiques have been made in psychology. Though many of his theories are completely ignored, many of his theories remain relevant in practice today. Modern critics have accused Freud of a variety scientific blunders, ranging from a lack of evidence to unempirical experimental methods and even unethical research practices. Almost every aspect of Freud’s theories have been meticulously dissected and analyzed. Freud’s intentions behind his research, possibilities of sexism in his psychosexual theories, the interrelationships of his various†¦show more content†¦But as soon as we endeavor to penetrate more deeply into the mental process involved in dreaming, every path will end in darkness. †¦we shall be obliged to set up a number of fresh hypotheses which touch tentat ively upon the structure of the apparatus of the mind and upon the play of forces operating in it. We must be careful, however, not to pursue these hypotheses too far beyond their first logical links, or their value will be lost in uncertainties.† This excerpt from Sigmund Freud’s 1913 book, The Interpretation of Dream, Third Edition, is one of his most famous generalizations of his work. Freud often emphasized that the study of the human mind is a complicated, arduous, and ever-changing field of attempts at empirically examining an intangible concept that often result in very small gains. His work has placed him into a distinct place in history that has been given countless courses of retrospection by academics alike. Sigmund Freud, born May 6th, 1856 and died September 23rd, 1939, was an Austrian neurologist that is renowned as the father of psychoanalysis. His work on psychosexuality, unconscious processes, drives, and innovative psychotherapy methods have had a pronounced impact on the field of psychology, as well as philosophy, literature, and many others (Emmett, 2001). An early life filled with hardships, trials, and meaningful encounters would shape his perspective into what would be ubiquitously referred to as innovative and even radical at the