Sigmund Freud was trained as a medical doctor so that he could better understand the human body and the physical manifestations of psychological distress. He believed that by understanding the physical causes of mental illness, he could develop more effective treatments.
In addition to being a psychologist, Freud was also an avid writer who published works on many subjects including philosophy, culture, and psychology. His first major work was The Interpretation of Dreams (1899), which established him as an authority on mental health issues. As his reputation grew, so did his clientele and he began to treat patients with anxiety and depression using psychoanalysis (a form of treatment based on talking).
Freud’s theories were based on the idea that our behaviors are determined by unconscious thoughts and feelings that we have no conscious access to. He felt that much of our behavior is determined by our early childhood experiences with our parents and other influential people in our lives. He believed that these early experiences influence how we perceive ourselves and others as well as how we respond emotionally to situations throughout our lives.
In order for psychoanalysts to determine what drives a person’s behavior, they must first gain access to their unconscious thoughts through free association techniques; this involves asking patients to say whatever comes into their head without censoring themselves.
