ABSTRACT
SIGMUND FREUD AND PSYCHOANALYSIS The central hypothesis of Freudian psychoanalysis is that human behavior is determined in large part by unconscious motives (Freud, 1961). Our personality and our actions, argued Freud, were in large part determined by thoughts and feelings contained in the unconscious. Repressed content of the unconscious inadvertently slips through into our words or deeds, resulting in what is commonly called a Freudian slip. If most activities are governed by the unconscious, the individual may have limited responsibility for his or her actions. Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic practitioners who use this approach tend to view psychological distress as being related to unconscious mental processes (Jacobs, 1998). Freud’s contribution has been developed by others; some have followed his basic assumptions, and others have developed more independent approaches. The term “psychodynamic” offers a wider perspective, which encompasses the different analytical approaches. As Jacobs (1998) suggested, psychodynamic implies that the psyche (mind/emotions/spirit/self) is active, not static. These internal mental processes are dynamic forces that influence our relations with others.
