Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud made several contributions to the fields of psychology and psychiatry, including founding the process of psychoanalysis. Many of Freud's theories were based upon the role the subconscious mind and dreams play in shaping human behavior, personality and development.
Fast Facts:
- Born: May 6, 1856
- Birth place: Freiberg, Moravia (now the Czech Republic)
- Studied medicine at the University of Vienna
- Spouse: Martha Bernays
- Had 6 children
- Moved to London in 1938 after the Nazis invaded AustriaBBC: Historic Figures: Sigmund Freud]
- Died: September 23, 1939 of jaw cancer
- Many of his theories revolved around sexual drives and impulses
The Id, the Ego and the Superego
Freud theorized that human personality was shaped by three separate, and sometimes conflicting, aspects. At birth, we are driven by the id, which strives to ensure that basic human needs are met without any consideration for others. As the mind continues to develop, so does the ego, which still strives to ensure basic needs are met, but also begins to understand the reality that it is unrealistic to get everything one desires. By the age of five, the superego, which dictates ethics, morals and conscience, begins to manifest itself.AllPsych Online: Freud's Structural and Topographical Models of Personality
Freud’s Psychosexual Stage Theory
According to Freud, all humans go through five stages in development, during which they achieve pleasure through different acts and body parts.
- Oral stage: From birth-18 months, infants gain pleasure by sucking
- Anal stage: From 18 months to three years, children gain pleasure by controlling their bowel movements
- Phallic stage: From age three to age seven, humans gain pleasure by exploring their genitals
- Latent stage: From age seven to puberty, growth and development takes precedence over the drive for pleasure
- Genital stage: From puberty onwards, humans achieve pleasure through sexual intercourse and masturbationPsyography: Sigmund Freud
