Sigmund Freud - Essay Example

Sigmund Freud, the Austrian founder of the Copernicus of the mind and psychoanalysis was born at Freiburg. His works and theories have been influential in shaping the current society’s perception of therapy, memory, personality, art, literature, government, sexuality, and childhood (Thurschwell 21). Due to his contribution, he has been regarded as one of twentieth-century psychology’s controversial and influential thinkers. In regard to his legacy, several works have been developed by other major thinkers. Similarly, out of opposition to Freud’s ideologies, other new theories have developed. According to Time Magazine, Freud has been referred to as one of the greatest thinkers of the past century. Furthermore, Freud’s contributions were recognized by Newsweek, where he is referred to as “History’s most debunked doctor.” Though his theories evolved considerable debates and controversies, their impacts have been felt in the field of culture, psychology, and therapy.  

In regards to Freud’s theories, psychology has been recognized in the current society. It is argued that Freud’s ideas led to the emergence of a whole school of thought due to their immense influence on psychology. Though behaviorism usurped the influence of Freud’s Psychoanalysis theory, its impact on psychotherapy and psychology was everlasting. According to Freud, cultural differences contribute to an individual’s behavioral and psychological development. Freud believed that mental illnesses are not solely caused by psychological causes (Thurschwell 57). Due to his writings and contribution to psychology, comprehension of clinical psychology, personality, abnormal psychology, and development has been intensified. Notably, the emergence of other prominent psychologists such as Karen Horney, Melaine Klein, Alfred Alder, and Ann Freud, has been ascribed to his influence. The development of clinical psychology has led to the treatment of psychiatric problems, abnormal behavior, and mental illnesses. Currently, the field integrates the treatment of complicated human problems and psychological sciences. Moreover, Freud’s advances led to the handling of abnormal and psychopathological behavior. Therefore, it has been easy to handle a wide range of psychological disorders such as obsession, depression, and schizophrenia.

Freud’s literature covered a wide range of topics such as culture, religion, women, dreams, and sex. Therefore, he has provided society with a lot of information in his writing concerning the above topics. Due to his low opinions, he viewed artists as narcissistic and immature people. The artists were considered to flaunter in public fantasies, unlike the adults who he perceived invoked private imagination in satisfying their erotic urges. Critics of Freud’s ideologies argue that though he formed a basis for the development of art in society, his analysis failed to capture the fact that sexual sublimation was exemplified through art and the fragrant egoism could only be hidden from the public affront through bold techniques (Thurschwell 135). 

According to Freud, similar jokes and dreams can be formed through the operation of four principles namely condensation, displacement, representation, and secondary revision. Condensation involves a combination of several elements to form a composite image, which is later substituted by a psychologically significant one. The form of the image is taken over by thoughts to combine disparate elements of an illusion into a comprehensible and articulate image. Freud’s contribution to literature is noted in his attempt to analyze the characteristics and traits of famous scientists and artists. Due to society’s passion for cultural achievements as creative sublimations or transformations of basic desires, people yearn to unravel whether these aspects can be salvaged from faces in portraits (Thurschwell 101). Through his constant reference to Biblical stories, in his stories, religion has gained dominance in most of the society’s settings.

The social governance proclaimed by Freud was based on the mechanisms created by a society that ensures human instincts are controlled socially that are basically rooted in the exclusion of incest. According to Freud, an individual or society cannot easily usurp the past since it is a central theme in society. In his response to followership, Freud concludes that individuals' or society’s primary desires are necessarily frustrated by the political philosophies that encourage all people to follow their leaders. Moreover, Freud is recognized for his contribution to cultural aspects of society. He perceived culture as an expression of desires that expresses those conflicts with themselves and society (Thurschwell 164). According to Freud, conflicts between an individual and the structure of society will never be totally resolved. However, civilization is essential in the development of societal administrative arms; individuals are constantly oppressed due to the incompatibility of its expectations and individual needs.

In conclusion, though Freud’s theories have been the subject of criticism both in the current and previous society, it is beyond doubt that they were extremely influential. Psychotherapy treatment proposed by Freud has been discovered to be expensive, less expensive, and it is lengthy. Our society’s culture has been interwoven by Freud’s ideas. In regard to his contribution, terms such as denial, repression, and Freudian slip have been included in the current everyday conversations.