Deep in the minds of human beings lies a vast ocean of emotions and experiences. The human mind is often misconstrued and simplified by those who possess one, but delving deeper into the mind and it’s processes you see a whole other world that is veiled beneath the surface. One of the most famous examples of the human mind is the image of an iceberg, what is on the surface is so minimal compared to the immense body that lies underneath. Sigmund Freud was the father of psychoanalysis and believed in the idea of the unconscious and subconscious that help power who we are. Through psychoanalysis Freud began to reclaim the self as an individual and stressed the importance of the external world and it’s direct role with the internal realm of an individual. Although it was originally found to be a sort of therapy for those with mental illnesses, it has an interesting and analytical and philosophical view of the self, and through this spawned new beliefs in philosophy. Through the establishment of the id, superego, and ego, and the past’s affect on the shaping the present state of the self, psychoanalysis reclaims the self for an individual and is successful in doing so. Important concepts in psychoanalysis are the id, superego, and ego. The id is an entirely unconscious and instinctual layer of an individual and operates on what is known as the “pleasure principle”, meaning it is constantly seeking immediate satisfaction. The ego is the component of the self that deals with reality and operates on the reality principle, which tries to satisfy the id’s needs in a much more socially and morally acceptable way. The superego is the last part to develop and this is what individuals learn from their surroundings, like society and the people ... ... middle of paper ... ...oducing the idea of unconscious layers to an individual you show that there is more to a self than meets the eye. The incorporation of time and an ever-changing human shined light on how we are not only affected physically by time, but our self is also impacted. The past’s influence on the present is an important aspect in keeping the individual unique. No two people can be exactly the same in psychoanalysis and this in itself supports the idea of reclaiming the self. I believe that much of my philosophy of the self is tied to psychoanalysis, even though I may not agree with everything Freud has to say, I think that there is more than just the surface of the human mind. By beginning to understand psychoanalysis more you are able to see the idea of a self in a new light and can conclude that there is so much more to being an individual than just biology and science.
According to Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, the structure of personality included the Id, ego and superego. The Id, whose sole purpose is to seek pleasure and wants instant gratification of needs without any regard for what is appropriate, includes the basic
Sigmund Freud is known for creating the concept of psychoanalysis, also known as psychoanalytic theory, which requires one to explore the unconscious mind. Over time, his theories have been revised as well as criticized in a variety of ways. Be that as it may, they have remained strong influences within the world of psychiatry, as well as in the worlds of film and literature. Many works generally exhibit Freudian influences, balancing the conscious life with the subconscious and dreamlike undertones. Key ideas of Freudian Psychoanalysis are the three psychic zones of id, ego and super-ego, the libido, and the Oedipus complex.
The terms id and superego, along with ego, comprise Freud’s tripartite model. The id is the portion of the psyche that generates “our instinctual physical, especially libidinal, desires. The id itself is often described as insatiable and pleasure seeking” and it does not consider the consequences or implications of its actions (Murfin and Ray 164). Conversely, the superego “operates according to morality principal and serves primarily to protect society and us from the id” (Bressler 151). The ego is the “rational governing agent of the psyche…the ego serves as intermediary between the world within and the world without” and it helps “keep us healthy human beings by maintaining a balance between these two opposing forces” (Guerin et al. 130-1).
Freud begins to create the map of mental life through the ideas of the ego, the id, and the superego. The ego, or consciousness, is the manner in which a person first realizes tha...
Psychoanalysis is a science that deals with the interaction between conscious and unconscious processes and laws of mental functions of an individual. Psychoanalysis is used to understand subjects of semiotics. Psychoanalysis is also used to understand the unconscious development that comes into play in society and how that shapes us as humans and as a society. Sigmund Freud did not discover the unconscious mind set, rather he developed the concept the most thorough. Structural hypothesis is part of Freud 's mental functioning of id, ego, and superego. Id is the psychic drive, impulsive, that is the source of energy, yet lacks direction. Ego consists of functions that relate to an individuals environment, the mediator between id and superego, the reality checker. The superego consists of moral perceptions and aspirations of an individual. The superego is mostly an unconscious psyche.
According to the Freudian concept of the conscious and unconscious levels of the human psyche, the human mind is structured like an iceberg. The conscious layer of the psyche shows the present knowledge of the things, whereas lies hidden under the surface level of the psyche that one can percei...
The psychodynamic approach lends itself to being a controversial yet highly influential theory in the history of psychology. The theory has become one of the most significant psychological approaches and its originator, Sigmund Freud, has become a major influence in modern psychology. The psychodynamic approach largely focuses on motivation and past experiences which develop and individual’s personality. Freud used the iceberg metaphor to outline the three states of consciousness and argued that only twenty percent of the mind represents the conscious. In addition he theorised that there was a pre-conscious mind which represents general memory. Finally, the unconscious mind which is essentially the reservoir of repressed or hidden experiences and desire.
The aim of this essay is to clarify the basic principles of Freud’s theories and to raise the main issues.
The psychoanalytic perspective was first discovered by Sigmund Freud which uncovers the nature of the mind and leads to the discovery of the unconscious. The unconscious is layered underneath as the proprietary element of the individuals mind, it is built over time and is only revealed through dreams, and slips. The development of the unconscious can be built at an early stage, as it shapes our personality. The individual does not have access to the unconscious as it’s deep in the mind and we find these events and feelings unacceptable for our conscious.
Sigmund Freud known to be the father of Psychoanalysis , contributed a large deal of this research on the construct of the unconscious mind. Freud valued the effect that the id, ego and superego had on a pe...
According to Friedman and Schustack (2010) the id holds the energy of the unconscious, which desires “the pleasure principle” and its only goal is to fulfill its impulses, the ego is mostly conscious awareness that has a large amount of power for personality that functions through “the reality principle; it must solve real problems”, and the superego is a personality trait that “develops to internalize social rules and guide goal-seeking behavior” (p. 64-65). While each of these offer a unique aspect of human behavior, it also demonstrates that with each individual, the influence of these elements will vary with each personality. Friedman and Schustack (2010) reveal that during evaluations a technique called free association is used to allow patients to say anything that comes to mind, which eventually focuses on dreams (p. 62). The authors also emphasize the importance of Freud’s psychosexual development and the unconscious defense mechanisms that contribute to personalities (p.75-86). According to Cooper (2008) “ Freud and his epochal discoveries concerning unconscious mental life remain the bedrock of psychoanalysis” (p. 26). Overall, there are the mental factors that affect people in unique ways; through personal experiences and unique environments an individual is in can have a large impact on the development or shifts in
Psychoanalysis examines what lies beneath human behavior, teaching us that unconscious thoughts within us are outside of our everyday thoughts. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, believed that people could be cured of their disorders by making the unconscious mind conscious. When Freud’s patients came to see him in order to treat an emotional disorder, he would often times have them lay on a couch. He used the couch so that patients could relax and be able to speak freely with little forethought.
Long regarded as the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) lives on today as an incredibly influential and powerful figure in the applied discipline of psychology. For Freud, it was his intense study of dialogue and interplay of involuntary human communication that ultimately led to his conclusions concerning the human unconscious. In contemporary studies, these conclusions have evolved into many of the distinguished, and more importantly controversial theories we associate with his name: the Oedipus complex; castration anxiety; penis envy; repetition compulsion; repression; etc. Much of the contention surrounding Freud is grounded in the belief that his works instituted notions that cannot be proven scientifically, such as personality development in infantile stages; sexuality in unconscious desire; and the unconscious drives behind human mannerism. Yet, despite the fact that many of Freud’s theories have not withstood the test of scientific scrutiny, few can argue against the fact that Freudianism is still impactful and has permeated other branches of modern theory. To prove this point, we can bring to attention the names of two modern theorists that have not only built upon Freud’s ideas in their work, but have consequently expanded his influence into other realms of literature, and other spheres of study. Harold Bloom (1930 – present) and Jacques Lacan (1901-1981) are only two notable thinkers that extend Freud’s ideas and have gained far-reaching influence in intellectual life. In response to this revival however, new opponents of Freud have found the opportunity to retaliate with their concerns and arguments. Nevertheless, the presentation of human identity and unconscious by Freud’s opponents and successors c...
Sigmund Freud was deemed the father of psychoanalysis. His use of psychoanalytic theories and techniques laid a sturdy foundation for the development of other psychotherapy models. Freud’s approach was focused more on the unconscious where impulses and wishes are split off from awareness (Wedding & Corsini, 2014). His goal was to make the unconscious conscious and help clients gain insight in order to have more control over their lives.
In conclusion, I feel psychoanalysis is a good way to understand why people do what they do, and how to recognize it and have the ability to change it. Although Freud made this discovery at the turn of the century it is still an effective way to deal with current problems some individuals may have.