Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1959)

Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1959)
Ronan S. Estoque, DPA

The most telling contribution of Dr. Sigmund Freud is the formulation of the psychoanalytic theory. The “unconscious” became the operative word in psychology in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Accordingly, explaining human behavior, predicting human behavior, and manipulating human behavior became embedded with the unconscious mind. Dr. Freud became what Michael Jordan was in the field of basketball. He became the superstar of the psychology in his time.

The framework for explaining neurosis became plain and simple. Thinking about sex became normal and every psychological problem can be resolved by confronting and embracing human sexuality instead of the usual repression (in whatever form) method advocated by moral police of his era.

Dr. Freud also identified and explained disparate manifestations of defense mechanisms, namely:
1. Identification. The unconscious process that protects the subject from anxiety by adopting traits from a psychological model.

2. Displacement. The unconscious transfer of an emotion from its original object to something or someone else.

3. Projection. The unconscious process that attributes other people’s feelings (i.e aggression) which one does entertain himself.

4. Regression. Retreating to a more immature pattern of behavior.

5. Repression. Keeping one’s memories and wishes in the unconscious.

6. Sublimation. Finding a socially acceptable outlet for a morally unacceptable impulse (i.e desire for one’s mother).

7. Denial. Refusing to accept something that is true.

8. Rationalization. Justifying irrational behavior or giving/offering excuses to one’s shortcomings.

9. Reaction formation. Behaving opposite to what one feels.

More than anything else, he became the creative architect behind the rest of the personality theorists after him. Majority of them borrowed from his framework minus the overemphasis on sex as a platform for explaining human behavior.

References
1. Estoque, Ronan S, Dela Cruz, Rogelio G, & Pichay, Marinelle Ivy T (2006), College Psychology, Mindshapers Inc., Philippines.
2. Oxford Interactive Encyclopedia 2000. Oxford University Press (2000).