Introduction
Sigmund Freud was a psychologist born on 6 May 1856 in Moravia in the Czech Republic. Freud died on 23 September 1939 in London, the United Kingdom (Hollitscher, 2017). When Freud died, he was 83 and was a renowned Austrian neurologist and one of the pioneer founders of psychoanalysis.
Place of Birth
Sigmund Freud was born in Pribor in the Czech Republic. Pribor has a historical significance and is preserved and safeguarded by law as a national monument. The urban center has an estimated 8,300 inhabitants (Jenkins, 2017). Pribor has two administrative parts, such as the villages of Prchalov and Hajov.
Career
Freud joined the University of Vienna in 1873 to commence his studies in medicine. When he graduated, Freud began his career at the Vienna Hospital (Jenkins, 2017). One of his notable collaborators in the field of medicine at the facility was Josef Breuer, and the duo treated hysteria by tackling painful experiences in neurology.
Upbringing (Family Life)
Freud was raised in a small rented room in Moravia, the Czech Republic. His childhood was characterized by confidence, and his parents knew he was destined for fame and greatness (Hollitscher, 2017). When Freud was born, his father was around forty years old while his mother was twenty.
Education
Freud studied at the University of Vienna in Austria between 1873 and 1881, where he studied medicine. In this case, he left secondary school in 1873 and immediately joined the university (Quinodoz & Weller, 2018). At the University of Vienna’s medical school, he majored in neurology and physiology before attaining his medical qualifications in 1881.
Cultural Information
Freud understood his cultural affiliation very well, as he did symptoms and dreams because he expressed his desires in conflict with society and one another. He also valued cultural issues such as science, art, and religion, which he felt would be rewarding at some point (Hollitscher, 2017). However, he also contended that culture is a result of impulses that make people be denied, like aggressiveness and sexual satisfaction.
What Was Going on In Society during Freud’s Life
During Freud’s life, culture and conflicts were the predominant issues that defined society. As Freud broadened his knowledge about various topics that affected the community, his contemporaries were also empowered to view things his way (Jenkins, 2017). He expanded his knowledge on multiple aspects, from the basics of political and moral life to elements such as theories of the unconscious, desire, and conflict.
Whether the Period was a Time of Political Upheaval
The period of Sigmund Freud was a time of political upheavals, and his ideas generated a lot of conflict in society. The expansion of his ideas also came with considerable criticism from those opposed to his views (Quinodoz & Weller, 2018). However, he vehemently protected his ideas through theoretical orthodoxy and institutionalization.
Significant Movements During the Time
Some of the most significant movements at the time included anti-Semitism, Nazism, and Marxism. These movements led to radical disruption of the status quo and sometimes violent confrontations. Freud lived during the time of Adolf Hitler, a German dictator who promoted Nazism (Jenkins, 2017). Because Freud was a Jew, he was seen as German’s most prominent enemy.
What the Person was Like
Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis, where he promoted the philosophy of treating people’s mental illnesses. He also promoted theories that explained the behaviors of human beings (Jenkins, 2017). One of his most prominent beliefs was that children’s behaviors are not in vain and would greatly influence how they behave in the future.
Interesting Characteristics Like Quirks
Sigmund Freud is known to have been a chain smoker and had an estimated 30 cancer surgeries by the time he died. In this case, Freud was a tobacco addict who started smoking cigarettes in his twenties (Jenkins, 2017). His daily routines involved frequencies to local stores that sold tobacco. He later graduated to cigars, which he smoked more than 20 daily.
Personality
Freud is a person who understood psychoanalysis well and believed it would be the best way to treat mental illnesses. He also promoted the personalities of the superego, ego, and id. Freud had a lot about the human psyche.
Major Theories
One of his most notable theories was personality, comprised of three primary elements: superego, ego, and id. The id happens to be the unconscious state, while the ego is the conscious one (Hollitscher, 2017). On the other hand, the superego is the ethical and moral framework. Other theories include psychosexual development and talk therapy.
Most Famous Research
Psychoanalysis is one of Freud’s most prominent forms of research to have ever been developed. In this theory, he outlines some of the best components of psychoanalysis, such as dreams, neuroses, and the unconscious mind.
Two Contemporaries
Some of Freud’s contemporaries include Carl Jung and Alfred Adler, who also contribute to the personality theory. While Jung supported most of the work by Freud, Adler was a critic who opposed most of his opinions.
Similar or Different Theories of Contemporaries
Carl Jung’s work was very similar to what Freud proposed, particularly in terms of personality theory. Jung was Freud’s close friend who viewed issues the same way. However, he would later start his analytical psychology, which was very close to the personality theory (Quinodoz & Weller, 2018). Alfred Adler was a significant critic of Freud, and he opposed the idea of personality as having too much focus on sex as something that primarily motivates human beings.
Contribution to the Field of Psychology
One of its most relevant contributions of Freud to psychology was developing the practice and theory of psychoanalysis. He contributed to elements of psychoanalysis, including transference, death, dreams, repression, sexual development, and the unconscious (Quinodoz & Weller, 2018). Freud had a lasting effect on the disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, and also psychotherapy.
References
Hollitscher, W. (2017). Sigmund Freud – An introduction. Routledge.
Jenkins, W. J. (2017). An analysis of Sigmund Freud’s the interpretation of dreams. Routledge.
Quinodoz, J.-M., & Weller, A. (2018). Sigmund Freud: An introduction. Routledge.