freud might've been onto something...or not?

as a future psych student, I delve deeper and reveal the truth about Freud's work

This school year, in Psychology class, we studied about personality. What creates our personality? Is it determined socially or biologically or do we have free will do create it ourselves? Does it work subconsciously, preconsciously or consciously? As a future psychology student, intrigued was just a fraction of my perception on this topic. We learned about Freud, Skinner, Bandura and so many more important figures, yet one specifically sparked my interest because of the stories I have heard prior to my studies.

One of the most known, controversial and significant figures in Psychology, Sigmund Freud, was a neurologist from Vienna (1856-1939). And even all these years later, despite all the criticism he is still the most important figure in high-school Psychology textbooks. So, why is that? What is his most significant discovery? What are his most important experiments? What are the controversies surrounding him. Today, I decided to delve deeper into this topic to uncover the truth about Freud and his studies.

Sigmund Freud described that a human’s life is under influence of unconscious motives of sexual and agressive nature.

He is the father of psychoanalysis - a deep analysis of personality which “helps” the human to awaken his or her unconscious content. To perform a psychoanalysis, you need to be in a calm and relaxed state, often lying down. He used several methods: the method of free associations, analysis of dreams, mistakes in speech, humor and complaints of his patients.

---

He also created the Structure of Personality - Id, Ego and Superego.

Id is the innate, primitive, and instinctive part of the personality. He divided it into two groups: Eros (the instinct of life: hunger, thirst, sexual instinct) and Thanatos (the instinct of death: destructive behaviors). Id only wants to fulfill it’s current instinct, it’s not constrained or limited. In it here lies the Libido - reservoir of psychological or sexual energy. If id is not satisfied, we will get a tense feeling.

Ego is the cognitive part of the personality which develops around the second year of life under the influence of the environment. It has the perception of self. It can postpone the instinct for a long-term goal. It controls behaviors and solves problems.

Superego is the moral part of the personality. It forms in the process of socialization under two influences: awards and punishment. Ego ideal is developed under the influence of awards, and conscience is developed under the influence of punishments.

Id, Ego and Superego are in constant conflict.

• If a person’s Id is the strongest, they will be impulsive, constantly wanting to fulfill their instinct, for example, driving fast.

• If a person’s Superego is the strongest, they will be self-critical, moral and the feelings of guilt will occur.

  

Criticism and controversy about Freud’s work:

Just ignoring Freud’s stances, personality and behavior, there are criticism about his studies and works.

1. It is not possible to research the existence of the structure of personality and libido.

2. Freud based his research on his work with patients.

3. Psychoanalysis theory cannot predict behavior.

4. Development is a life-long process, not limited.

Thank you so much for reading! Tell me your thoughts in the comments! Now let’s reflect!