Essentials Of Mortal Secrets

- Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was an Austrian neurologist who founded the psychoanalytic school of psychotherapy. He is considered the father of psychoanalysis and one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century.

- Freud began his career studying nervous disorders but became interested in how the unconscious mind influences behavior and mental illness. He developed groundbreaking theories like the conscious/unconscious mind, the structure of the psyche (id, ego, superego), and psychosexual development.

- Freud believed all mental processes are driven by an underlying sexual energy or "libido." He proposed that early childhood experiences and unconscious desires shape adult personality. His most famous theory is the Oedipus complex, where children develop sexual attraction to the parent of the opposite sex.

- Key concepts in Freudian theory include repression (pushing unacceptable urges into the unconscious), the pleasure principle (the mind seeks immediate gratification), transference (projecting feelings onto the therapist), and the interpretation of dreams, slips of the tongue and other behaviors as representations of unconscious desires.

- Freud developed psychoanalytic therapy methods like free association and dream analysis. His case studies like "Dora" and "The Wolf Man" revealed the power of traumatic childhood memories and sexual fantasies in shaping adult neuroses.

- Although controversial, Freud transformed how we understand the human mind, psychopathology, sexuality, creativity and the importance of early development experiences. His influence expanded to fields like literature, film, art and philosophy. Psychoanalysis remains an important school of psychotherapy today.

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