Freud and the Question of Pseudoscience, Research Paper Example

Sigmund Freud is considered the father of psychoanalysis, a psychological technique that is used to help patients gain an understanding of their subconscious thought (Cioffi, 1999). This method is commonly used to help these individuals connect their inner thoughts to their outer behaviors and feelings in a manner that helps them regulate actions that are considered to be abnormal. In addition, Freud is well-known for conducting a series of research experiments in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the mind and how it operates. He conducted many case studies that contributed to a variety of theories to explain how the mind operates. One of his most famous theories is called the Oedipus complex, in which the development of young children is fostered by their love for their opposite sex parent and jealousy of their same sex parent. This battle for affection is said to contribute to inner conflicts that are later manifested in the adult life.

Even though Sigmund Freud’s academic career began in 1882, he continued to study various aspects of the mind until his death in 1939. Furthermore, it is important to consider that many of the theories that he developed that have later been dismissed were still used to create the basis of understanding that we have of psychology today. In addition, while there are currently many psychological therapy techniques that are used to help patients modify their behaviors, many therapists still use psychotherapy for this purpose today. Therefore, even though Freud conducted his work approximately 130 years ago, the knowledge that he has contributed to modern psychology is still relevant today.

Freud’s contribution to the modern understanding of psychology is important because he has helped us understand that repressed thoughts and previous events have the ability to impact our current behaviors. Even though many people forget about significant occurrences that have happened in the past, therapists attempt to help their patients remember these events and to use this understanding to help guide them through the recovery process. As a consequence, we have learned that it is possible to refine and modify behaviors based on these recognitions in addition to the willingness to change put forth by the patient (Gellner, 1993). Even though the inner workings of the mind are still little understood, Freud’s techniques are effective and continue to help people modify their behaviors and feelings in a positive manner today.

This theory makes a lot of sense to me because it is intuitive that thoughts, even if repressed, have the potential to impact behaviors and reactions to different situations. However, it is important to understand that this theory is highly abstract in nature because we are unable to truly understand why this therapy is effective in terms of biological consequences. Overall, the brain is controlled by environmental and biological processes and the balance between these two factors is complex. It is due to this complexity that I believe that there are several shortcomings of Freud’s theories.

The understandings of psychology that he generated related mainly to the environmental aspect of the brain. With a modern understanding of genetics and other physiological processes, it is reasonable to argue that erratic behaviors could be controlled through a mixture of therapy and medication. Furthermore, the exact reasoning posed by Freud has not been backed up by evidence. His theory of the Oedipus complex, for example, is not grounded in evidence. Therefore, it is important to appreciate Freud’s understandings for what he was able to accomplish during his time period, although it is also important to attempt to understand these ideas in a modern context in order to maximally benefit the patients that rely on these principles.

References

Cioffi, Frank. (1999). Freud and the Question of Pseudoscience. Peru, IL: Open Court.

Gellner, Ernest. (1993). The Psychoanalytic Movement: The Cunning of Unreason. London: Fontana Press.