Essay, Research Paper: Freud

The Collins dictionary defines science as the, systematized knowledge derived from observation, study, and experimentation. The key to this definition is that it does not place any minimums or limits to any empirical research in order to deem a particular theory scientific. It would be impossible within the scope of this essay to critically encompass all of Freud s theories; therefore I will seek to focus on the fundamental principles that underline his psychoanalysis doctrine. I will attempt to focus on Freud s theoretical conclusions rather than his methods like hypnosis and free association, though they are equally controversial. I intend to argue that just as Plato s description of a tripartite soul was scientifically revolutionary during his time, so was Freud s division of the human mind into three parts, namely the id, ego and superego. The significance is that psychoanalysis set the crucial foundations for many other forms of modern psychological therapy. Throughout this essay I will be considering various expert criticisms of the validity of Freudian theory having a scientific basis. From these criticisms, I would concur that Freud s psychoanalysis indeed demonstrates a lack of clear scientific predictability and did not possess the amount of empirical evidence we usually associate with such psychological breakthroughs. But however justified these criticisms are, in my opinion they fail to discredit the overall scientific significance his doctrine has in directly advancing our knowledge of our behavioural tendencies. it must be conceded that Freud s theories surrounding his recognition of the importance of unconscious mental activity was by far the most scientifically revolutionary at the turn of the century.
In 1896, Freud coined the term psychoanalysis. Contrary to other psychological disciplines, which were more concerned on external and structural factors that determine behaviour, Freud sought to explain behavioural and mental problems through the repression of internal emotional feelings out of an individual s consciousness. These feelings according to him were usually morally unacceptable or painful to the patient. He developed a procedure for the investigation of mental processes, i.e. thoughts, feelings, emotions, dreams, that have been up till now unexplored and inaccessible by any other method. This led to the formulation of the main tenets of psychoanalysis. Freud distinguished different levels of consciousness ranging from unconsciousness to pre-conscious to fully conscious. Through clinical experience, he concluded that the unconscious side of mental health was responsible for holding repressed traumatic memories that could not be confronted by the conscious self. Dreams and slips of tongue were concealed examples of unintentional expressions of this repression. Freud illustrated the nature and interaction of the mind by identifying three elements, id, ego and superego, which were often in conflict with each other. The id is the unconscious portion or pleasure principle of the psyche that demands immediate satisfaction of its urges, regardless of any consequences and considerations. The ego however is ruled by the reality principle that acts as an intermediary between the instinctive desires of the id and the external reality. The superego is the most complicated of the three as Freud claims that it acts as a sort of moral constriction or conscience for the individual by inhibiting the actions of the selfish ego. It is responsible for the limitation of satisfactions and represents the influence of others upon our own psyche. Instead of elaborating further on his main principles of psychoanalysis, I rather give an example of