If there were a name that is inseparable from the field of psychology in the public's vocabulary, then that name would possibly be Freud. The Austrian psychiatrist with thick and pointed beard has become almost the caricature of psychiatry professionals in all media of television and film. The comedic personifications of the psychiatrist or psychologist are almost incomplete without borrowing at least one characteristic of Sigmund Freud. And between that confluence of caricature and comedy seems to lurk the implicit air of dismissal that has been associated with the father of psychoanalysis. In writing this article, I hope to combat some of the misrepresentations that have come so close to such an influential figure in the history of modern psychology.
"Freud was wrong"
This is where popular criticism of Freud has perhaps achieved most of its momentum. It is not necessary to carefully analyze the discussion on the Internet to testify the confidence with which this criticism is presented, the suspicious support of introductory psychology that is looming in the background. For students who begin their foray into the field, Freud represents the perfect tool for instruction: their theories not only lack the scientific rigor with which nascent psychology continues to establish its credibility among the sciences, but also exist without an iota of falsifiability Along with an unshakeable fascination for sex and explanations based on that construct, it is not at all surprising or even undeserving that Freud has been mocked.
Forgotten in the presence of his eccentricities and, often, unscientific approach to psychology, however, is his achievements and contributions to the field. By the time his ideas were "correct," the field was more seriously introduced to the concepts that have informed much of today's psychological research and study. Gravity applied to the unconscious mind and the mechanisms of psychological coping - concepts now inescapable in the main discussion of psychology - represent perhaps one of Freud's most important contributions. The enormity of these concepts and other more credible ideas of Freud is often lost despite their failures, which are undoubtedly abundant.
Achievements of Freud
Uncontroversial and perhaps the most popular among Freud's taunts is his infamous fascination with sex and sexual explanation. The same subtitle of this section would probably have Freud's mind full of ideas and an ostensible perception of the mind of this author. Leaving irony aside, Freud's fascination with sex represents the microcosm of a much larger and more important contribution to his work. Here I refer to the simple act of discussion, which drove psychology, especially its clinical setting, to the modernity that we now take for granted.
In a moment still deeply rooted in the false discourse of open conversation about sex, Freud was not only breaking those conventions, but he was also using them a lot in his discussions of the mind and human behavior. Although bordering on what critics might consider obsession, their discussion of sexuality represents an adventure in issues important to the human condition that had not received appropriate prior attention. On a larger scale, their open discussion of these issues can be seen as representative of broader clinical contributions, including a greater acceptance of conversations about topics and emotions that are generally not expressed over time.
The greatest and furious achievement of Freud
While your achievements are not limited to this brief discussion, there is one more in particular that I should draw attention to as this article comes to an end. By studying the mind and its unconscious elements, Freud emphasized the inextricable connection between, simply, the child and its adult form. This is where I believe that Freud receives perhaps the greatest harm in his casual dismissal. The effects of developmental stages on later behaviors, mental illness and cognition have been an area of great research and examination, which in turn has often informed the theory, treatment methods and even policy formulation. At a time when this link seems almost insultingly obvious, it seems forgotten that serious discussion of these developmental factors began in many ways with Freud's research.
The man, the myth, the man
As I hope you can see from this brief discussion, the criticisms of Freud that seem inevitably to materialize after his mention are not without counterweight. His discussion of sex along with his interest in childhood experiences have undoubtedly been an instrument in the history of psychology as a field, calling his attention to behaviors and issues arguably