2006-09-26 00:21:02 · 9 answers · asked by Mar 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Freud is best known for his studies of sexual desire, repression, and the unconscious mind.
Freud's theories and research methods were controversial during his life and remain so today, but few dispute his far-reaching impact on psychologists and academics.
Most importantly, Freud popularized the "talking-cure"--the notion that a person could be treated simply by talking over his or her problems, which was almost unheard of in the 19th century. Even though many psychotherapists today partly or wholly reject the specifics of Freud's theories, this basic model of treatment stems largely from his work.
In addition, Freud's development of "unconscious" sources of behavior and his emphasis on motivational structures of the human mind have had a lasting impact on psychological theory and research. However, most of Freud's specific theories--like his stages of psychosexual development--and especially his methodology, have fallen out of favor in modern experimental psychology.
Some psychotherapists, however, still follow an approximately Freudian system of treatment. Many more have modified his approach, or joined one of the schools that branched from his original theories (see Neo-Freudian). Still others reject his theories entirely, although their practice may still reflect his influence.
Psychoanalysis today maintains the same ambivalent relationship with medicine and academia that Freud experienced during his life.
2006-09-26 00:33:40 · answer #1 · answered by heatherlynnmorrow 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Freud was a medical doctor and was the first to use cocaine (to anesthetize eyes during eye surgery). He was a prolific writer who created and advanced the entire profession of psychoanalyzing. Students and doctors met regularly to discuss cases and advance and share knowledge. He "invented" the use of the couch to treat patients perhaps because he was shy and the material being discussed was so highly personal that it was easier for him and the patient that he not be in view. Many psychoanalysts who broke away to form their own schools of thought and theories none-the-less began with his teachings. In a way he was like the Wright Brothers. Some had flown before them in hot air balloons but they showed the way how to take wing. Today the entire first flight could take place within a Boeing 787 but that first flight was key. Today there have been many changes in psychoanalysis, psychiatry and psychology but Freud was key.
2006-09-26 00:43:12 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Freud's work is now very much malligned, although without that dude we would probably have total chaos in todays society. He was well ahead of his time and took psychology to a higher,deeper level.
2006-09-26 11:36:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not that I'm an expert, or even have much by the way of passing knowledge I would concur with the previous sentiments, that although some of his conclusions were spurious, especially where it comes to women, he was pioneering in the field of psycho-analysis and understanding of ego, sub-conscious, etc. Having said that I do find Jung more interesting in some respects.
2006-09-26 00:35:53 · answer #4 · answered by Greedo79 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
O gosh..where to start...and yes, you will get so many opinions. I think that he was the forerunner of alot of analytical work and for that alone he was brave..a chauvinist, absolutely as he could not understand women and dismissed them as hysterical..(not much different from some mens opinions nowadays) but there are many therapists who still work with his model of work and his case studies are used as learning aids. This would take forever to get right into so I have mentiioned a few things..this will be interesting, good question.
2006-09-26 00:31:57 · answer #5 · answered by Saskia M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes he was way out in some of his theories, but in many he was spot on. Things like the development of the Ego etc I found very interesting and insightful. It explains why some people are such dicks!
2006-09-26 00:29:37 · answer #6 · answered by As You Like It 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I foresee a lively debate over this question. Some would argue that, as his subjects were a "skewed sample" all the results and the extrapolations from that research was fairly useless.
Others would have it differently.
2006-09-26 00:26:54 · answer #7 · answered by PAUL H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He got his missus to interpret a dream
2006-09-26 00:29:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is the "Father" of modern psychology.
2006-09-26 00:32:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋