dicsuss the significance of Freud's theories of sexuality
1. Discuss the significance of Freud’s theories of sexuality, especially femininity.
Sigmund Freud, a legend to many, loathed by others, although, you cannot argue the suffused contemporary thought and popular culture he has generated. Some believed he was sexist, others understood his theories as ‘appropriate’ to the Victorian era, either way, he paved the path of psychology in its entirety and opened discussion on sexuality, femininity and its place in society.
He was born on the 6th of May 1856 and died on the 23rd of September 1913 (Jones, 1961). In that time, Freud qualified as a doctor of medicine at the University of Vienna in 1881 (Freud, 1931). He was appointed a university lecturer in neuropathology in 1885 and became a professor in 1902 (Jones, 1961). Freud created the treatment as we know today, psychoanalysis, this is used in the treatment of psychopathological diseases by using dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Freud developed therapeutic techniques such as the use of free association (patients are asked to relate whatever comes into their minds during the session with their therapist) and discovered transference (which is when a patient inadvertently transfers feelings about one person to become applied to another person) which the psychology world uses modified versions of today. Freud redefined sexuality by adding in the Oedipus complex, which in short, is the where little boys are attracted to their mothers, and little girls are attracted to their fathers (Jones, 1961).
Freud rejected one of his earlier theories that patient’s neurosis to trauma are often sexual and violent in nature and are caused from patients ' memories of abuse (Jones, 1961). He later on altered this to believe they were actually fantasies, stemming from their own sexual and destructive drives (Jones, 1961).
Freud invented the idea and the existence of ‘libido’, a form of energy with which mental constructs generate erotic attachments, and a death
Sigmund Freud, a legend to many, loathed by others, although, you cannot argue the suffused contemporary thought and popular culture he has generated. Some believed he was sexist, others understood his theories as ‘appropriate’ to the Victorian era, either way, he paved the path of psychology in its entirety and opened discussion on sexuality, femininity and its place in society.
He was born on the 6th of May 1856 and died on the 23rd of September 1913 (Jones, 1961). In that time, Freud qualified as a doctor of medicine at the University of Vienna in 1881 (Freud, 1931). He was appointed a university lecturer in neuropathology in 1885 and became a professor in 1902 (Jones, 1961). Freud created the treatment as we know today, psychoanalysis, this is used in the treatment of psychopathological diseases by using dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Freud developed therapeutic techniques such as the use of free association (patients are asked to relate whatever comes into their minds during the session with their therapist) and discovered transference (which is when a patient inadvertently transfers feelings about one person to become applied to another person) which the psychology world uses modified versions of today. Freud redefined sexuality by adding in the Oedipus complex, which in short, is the where little boys are attracted to their mothers, and little girls are attracted to their fathers (Jones, 1961).
Freud rejected one of his earlier theories that patient’s neurosis to trauma are often sexual and violent in nature and are caused from patients ' memories of abuse (Jones, 1961). He later on altered this to believe they were actually fantasies, stemming from their own sexual and destructive drives (Jones, 1961).
Freud invented the idea and the existence of ‘libido’, a form of energy with which mental constructs generate erotic attachments, and a death
References: Freud, S, 1905. Three essays on the theory of sexuality. 1st ed. Vienna: Oxford. Freud, S, 1933. New introductory lectures on psychoanalysis. 2nd ed. vienna: Oxford. Cohler, J, Cochran, S, Velarde, C, Calkins, B, Chenault, E, Cody, L and Williams, A, 2007. Sexual fantasies, sexual functioning and hysteria among women: a test of Freuds (1905) hypothesis. Psychoanalytic psychology, 24, 697-700. Cohler, J & Galatzer-Levy, M, 2008. Freud, Anna, and the problem of female sexuality. Psychoanalytic enquiry, [Online]. 28, 3-26. Muller, J 1992. Freud (Sigmund); History of Psychology; Hysteria; Literature; Psychoanalytic Theory Psychoanalytic Psychology, 9, 129-156. Jones, E, 1961. The life and work of Sigmund Freud. England, Oxford Starr, E, Aron, L, 2011. Women on the Couch: Genital Stimulation and the Birth of Psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 21, 373-392.