Psychoanalytic Theory Notes

Psychoanalytic Theory by Sigmund Freud

Overview

Freud is associated with psychoanalysis.
The twin cornerstones of psychoanalysis are sex and aggression.
The key concepts include the structure of personality, psychosexual stages of development, defense mechanisms, and the Oedipus complex.
Behavior is influenced through repressed memories or desires residing in the unconscious mind.

Sigmund Freud - Biography

Sigismund Schlomo Freud was born on May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic). Some sources suggest March 6 as his birth date.
He was the firstborn child to Jacob and Amalie Freud and had seven younger siblings. He was particularly close to his mother, which influenced his self-confidence.
Freud moved to Vienna at age three, where he lived for most of his life.
The death of his younger brother Julius in infancy deeply affected Freud, causing guilt and influencing his later theories.
He had a complex relationship with his father and an idealized relationship with his mother, shaping his theories on family dynamics.
Freud entered the University of Vienna Medical School, more interested in human nature than medical practice.
He worked in physiology and later psychiatry, where he developed an interest in the treatment of nervous diseases.
In 1885, Freud studied in Paris under Jean-Martin Charcot, learning about the use of hypnosis to treat hysteria. He began to see a psychogenic and sexual origin for these symptoms.
Freud collaborated with Breuer on the case of Anna O, leading to the development of the cathartic method, which later evolved into Freud's free association technique.
Freud and Breuer published Studies on Hysteria in 1895, marking the beginning of psychoanalysis. However, Freud’s relationship with Breuer eventually deteriorated over disagreements.
Freud's work on dream interpretation, the unconscious, and the sexual basis of neuroses laid the foundation for psychoanalysis.
His major works during this time include The Interpretation of Dreams and Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality.
He suffered from depression and self-doubt, particularly after his father's death, which led him to engage in self-analysis.
His theory of the Oedipus complex emerged from this period of introspection.
Freud established the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society in 1908 and the International Psychoanalytic Association in 1910, with Carl Jung as its first president.
Freud faced hardships during World War I, including health issues and isolation, but continued to refine his theories, especially on aggression and the female Oedipus complex.
He had a strong dislike for America, partly due to cultural differences and his belief that Americans would trivialize psychoanalysis.
Freud's legacy includes his contributions to psychology and his influence on 20th-century thought, despite his controversial theories and strained relationships.

Hysteria

Ancient Greece: Hysteria was thought to be a physical disorder affecting women, derived from the Greek word "hystera," meaning uterus. It was believed that the uterus could wander in the body, causing symptoms.
19th Century: Hysteria was commonly diagnosed in women and associated with sexual dysfunction or repressed desires. Treatments included now-discredited methods like hysterectomies (removal of the uterus) and vibrators.
Sigmund Freud's View: Hysteria was seen as a result of unresolved psychological conflicts, often tied to childhood experiences and repressed emotions, leading to the concept of