Freud’s Impact on Modern Psychology Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction

Sigmund Freud and followers of his theories had a significant impact on the development of present-day Psychology. Trying to use his innovative techniques for curing psychic pathologies, this Austrian neurologist revolutionized the existing system of values and psychological theories. Researching the phenomenon of unconsciousness and coining this term to the world culture, Freud made the most significant contribution to the present-day psychological knowledge that cannot be underestimated.

Body

Freud’s concept of unconsciousness is in the picture of most contemporary studies. Winer & Anderson (2001) noted that “His discovery of the unconscious was pivotal” (p. 147). The theory had a lot of followers who contributed their interpretations to it, but these were Freud and his researches that laid the foundation for the following development of the popular method of psychoanalysis and the theory of unconsciousness. Freud offered his patients to voice all their thoughts without any exception trying to analyze the information retrieved from their occasional slips f the tongue. The psychoanalyst regarded them to be not occasional but predetermined by certain subjective reasons. As opposed to the preceding his theories’ beliefs in supernatural forces, psychoanalytic theories looked for the roots of all dreams and slips of the tongue in the person’s inner world. Freud, Keegan, & Bell (2002) noted that “A slip of the tongue can be amusing when it emerges in confirmation of something the speaker is denying” (p. 89). Freud analyzed every patient’s word in order conclusion about the person’s inner world. Giving explanatexplanations phenomena that previously were not touched upon by the scientists, Freud revolutionized scientific knowledge and provided a profound basis for the further development of realistic theories. Winer & Anderson (2001) noted that “Because of the naïve medical beliefs of the times and the rigid Victorian family structure, he was even more of a giant who endured and succeeded in spitedespitecriticism” (p. 148). As all innovations contradicting the existing system of beliefs, Freud’s theories were first met at dagger points. His way to public recognition was not an easy one, the neurologist and his followers had to struggle against numerous difficulties for changing the public opinion and the specialists’ views. But this fact does not reduce the significance of their psychoanalytic researches. Due to the efforts of Freud and his followers, the concept of unconsciousness was included in most contemporary studies and influenced the existing system of beliefs.

Freud’s ideas are widely used for interpreting the events of everyday life as well as for curing various psychic pathologies nowadays. Reef (2001) admitted that “Like an archeologist of the mind, Freud waited for his patient’s words to reveal their hidden messages: long-lost memories and unconscious desires” (p. 2). The same strategy is widely used by present-day doctors, almost a century ago after the outstanding discoveries of an Austrian researcher. Like other significant theories, the study of unconsciousness was often criticized and critically evaluated, though there were much more people who appreciated it. Jacobs (2003) noted that “For every negative voice, such as Eysenck’s or Crews’, there are a dozen more who positively assess Freud’s contribution to twentieth-century thought not only as powerful but also as profound” (p. 134). His interpretation of dreams and slips of the tongue theories are well-known among a wide range of the population. The fact of this enormous popularity might become evidence of the significance of these theories.

Conclusion

The significance of Freud’s contribution to the development of present-day Psychology is undeniable. Wintle (2009) noted that “Freud remains one of the undisputed giants of twentieth-century thought” (p. 259). Psychologists might either agree or disagree with this statement, but Freud’s theories need to be taken into consideration for researching any psychological phenomenon.

Reference List

1. Freud, S., Keegan, P., & Bell, A. (2002). The Psychopathology of Everyday Life. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
2. Jacobs, M. (2003). Sigmund Freud. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
3. Reef, C. (2001). Sigmund Freud: Pioneer of the Mind. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
4. Winer, J.A. & Anderson, J.W. (2001). Sigmund Freud and His Impact on the Modern World. Chicago, IL: the Analytic Press.
5. Wintle, J. (2009). The Concise New Makers of Modern Culture. Routledge.