Live Life Team
The foundation of Psychology dates back to early civilizations, but it only adopted a more scientific approach when the need to understand the role of neurological functions in mental illness grew. Further developments were realised when the discussion of taboo topics in psychology was paved with Sigmund Freud’s works on the unconscious minds, repressed feelings and thoughts, and sexuality.
Sigismund Schlomo Freud was born to a Jewish family in Moravia in the Czech Republic on May 6, 1856. He was the eldest among eight siblings and was still young when his family moved to Vienna, Austria. Freud’s high intellect manifested during his younger years as his family tried their best to encourage him to pursue a medical career despite their modest income. At the age of 21, Freud decided to adopt the abbreviated first name “Sigmund.” Then a renowned neurologist and children’s ward director in Berlin, Freud returned to Vienna in 1886. His books on psychoanalytic doctrines, particularly the id, ego and superego of the human psyche gained him not only recognition but also followers. Freud maintained the explanation of dreams as manifestation of unconscious wishes in his work, “The Interpretation of Dreams.” His arguments regarding the unconscious mind as a motivational source and “life and death instincts” sparked several debates. He also touched on topics such as self-analysis, the Oedipus Electra complex, and sexuality in early child development.
Freud’s observation of human conditions demonstrates the complexity of the human mind. His controversial ideas may have significantly changed others’ views on psychology, but the fact that it is still relevant today shows how influential his works are.
