What Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis says

Defined as the set of psychological thoughts and therapeutic techniques that arise from both the work and theories of Sigmund FreudHe psychoanalysis Its main foundation is that all human beings are influenced by unconscious thoughts, feelings, desires and memories.

As a central point, psychoanalysis establishes that the unconscious has a series of primary drives that need to be satisfied, something that conscience generally does not allow to happen due to the norms inherent to living in society.

From that constant struggle, that the repressed impulse causes a discrepancy in the unconscious which can cause psychological distress.

Psychoanalysis also suggests that people can do this experiencing what is known as catharsis, that is, a process in which a more approximate vision of a mental state is obtained which leads to knowing that content that was in the unconscious or subconscious. Thanks to this, they may end up finding relief from psychological distress.

In general terms, psychoanalysis is based on the following premises: behaviors are strongly influenced by impulses that come from the unconscious, most of which emotional and psychological problems They usually originate in those submerged conflicts between the conscious and unconscious mind and personality development is strongly influenced by events experienced during early childhood.

For Freud, the human psyche is largely shaped during the first five years of life. In his studies, the neurologist of Austrian origin also considered that people often use distorted thoughts as a defense mechanism protect yourself from information which is in your unconscious.

Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis

Along with his studies, Sigmund Freud began treating patients with psychological disorders. The search for him began thanks to his intervention with the patient known as “Anna O”, who suffered from various physical symptoms with no apparent cause.

Joseph Breuerwho initially treated her, found that her symptoms decreased when he encouraged her to recover memories related to traumatic experiences which he had repressed. That detail piqued Freud’s interest, to the point that he ended up developing his own more influential ideas than himself.

According to the International Psychoanalytic Association, Freud discovered that symptoms contained hidden meaning, to which, in time, he added that neurotic symptoms were messages that carried hidden meanings. repressed and unconscious psychics. This allowed him to develop his “talking cure,” a mechanism that revolutionized the interaction between patients and their therapists.

The Austrian doctor saw his patients six days a week, listened and responded to whatever they wanted to say to him while they were there. lying on a sofa. This allowed Freud to induce them to make associations that came from repressed experiences and which, once brought to consciousness, could be analyzed until the symptoms disappeared.

He also believed that the best way to learn how the human mind works is to carefully study its sequences expressions, thoughts and feelingsdreams, fantasies and how these appear in a certain context.