Sigmund Freud

Definition

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who founded psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. His theories on the unconscious mind, mechanisms of repression, and the importance of childhood experiences have profoundly influenced the social sciences and humanities.

Related terms

Psychoanalysis: A therapeutic approach that seeks to explore beneath the surface of an individual's consciousness to uncover hidden impulses and memories.

Unconscious Mind: A part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and desires not within one's current awareness but influencing emotions and behavior.

Repression: A defense mechanism where unpleasant thoughts, feelings, or desires are excluded from conscious awareness