Introduction
The analysis of patients’ free associations led Freud to the conclusion that the diseases of the adult personality are reduced to childhood experiences. Even though the method of psychoanalysis was developed on adult subjects and requires significant additions to the study of children, the data obtained by Freud indicate the decisive role of childhood experience in personality development. His patients often rejected the unconscious level as non-existent even though it was a fundamental determinant of their behavior.
Main body
The unconscious part of a person’s personality is formed precisely in childhood under the influence of parents and society. However, most of Freud’s theories cannot be tested in childhood and become apparent only with a regressive approach. One of the examples is the theory of the three components of personality – Id, Ego, and Super-Ego (Traylor et al., 2022). It means the instincts and desires inherent in a person from birth. The Super-Ego is formed under the influence of parents, society, experiences in childhood, and other experiences. The Ego is a rational component guided by which people act at a conscious age. Most people accept only the rational part of themselves. At the same time, the unconscious acquired in childhood is usually shown in various forms in adulthood. Therefore, if Freud had tried to find support for his theories by researching children, the results would have been inaccurate.
Conclusion
Freud’s philosophy has many shortcomings and shortcomings that make one doubt the solidity of theories and ideas. His concepts and theories “are difficult to validate empirically and as such a firm scientific basis for Freud’s theory is still lacking” (Muris, 2006, p. 9). Moreover, excessive obsession with sexuality is another shortcoming of Freud’s philosophy. Nevertheless, it became the first systems theory of growing up and laid the foundation for large-scale research into child psychology.
References
Muris, P. (2006). Freud was right… about the origins of abnormal behavior. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 15(1), 1-12.
Traylor, J., Overstreet, L., & Lang, D. (2022). Psychodynamic Theory: Freud. Individual and Family Development, Health, and Well-being. Web.