The Psychoanalytic Approach

Freud by Max Halberstadt, 1921

Although many students begin studying psychology with limited knowledge of the subject, there is one name most have heard of: Sigmund Freud. He is considered one of the most influential men of the twentieth century, and pioneered ideas that no one had ever considered. In fact, Freud was the first person to consider unconscious forces, the validity of dream interpretation, and the importance of childhood experiences. Freud's ideas and theories were considered shocking during his lifetime and are still somewhat shocking today. Imagine how the ultra-conservative Victorian society of this psychologist's day responded to his theories involving sex, aggression, childhood development, and personality.

Essential Questions

• How did Freud's psychoanalytic theory explain personality development?
• What are defense mechanisms?
• Who were considered Neo-Freudians and what did they emphasize?