Sigmund Freud Notes

A neurologist by training, Freud founded "psychoanalysis" a comprehensive and revolutionary theory of human behavior. Despite widespread and intense opposition to psychoanalysis, its influence on 20th century Western thought and culture has been profound. Mapping out various conscious and unconscious mental processes such as the "id," "ego" and "superego," Freud developed a scheme that explained human actions. Freud thought that early sexual impulses (infantile sexuality) were very important in the development of a human being's mental life. Freud's research led him to a consideration of dreams as important conduits to our unconcious life. In his clinical work he analyzed the mechanism by which patients resisted therapy and transferred problematic emotions to the therapist.