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Freud’s Theories 1
Running Head: A LOOK AT FREUD’S PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORIESA Look at Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theories of Human Nature,Problem Formation and Method for ChangeTe-Ericka PattersonBarry UniversityFall 2009
 
Freud’s Theories 2
The most celebrated human psychological theorist in all of history is now ahousehold name due to his groundbreaking leadership of the psychoanalyticmovement. His courage to think outside the mainstream ideas that werepresented in his time triggered a wave from his native country to ours.Considered widely controversial during his day, Freud continued to developtheories related to human nature, how problems form in the human mind as wellas theories or techniques for change.In an article written about Freud’s one and only trip to the United States to lectureat Clark University, the author writes, “Freud's lectures covered his mostfundamental concepts. His most controversial discussion concerned thedevelopment of sexuality, beginning in infancy.”(Sack & Makari, 2009)In my opinion, Freud’s idea that the root of human nature is influenced largely bythe development of sexuality is congruent with his theory that humans possess acertain amount of psychic energy. From my interpretation of these two theories,they are actually one and the same. Our desire for sexual interaction andexpression is an inherent expression of our psychic energy. Our psychic energyis representative of who we are at our core.
 
Freud’s Theories 3
When, as youth, we are taught that expressing ourselves sexually is a bad thing,or we are abused sexually, we begin to harbor negative feelings toward who weare as people, rather than the abuser or the act of abuse itself.To deal with these feelings of inadequacy caused by thwarted expression of ahealthy sexuality, Freud believes that humans tend to use defense mechanismsto repress the expression of pain.In an article written in 2002, Joel Black writes of Freud, “The distinctive fault thatplagues the children of Israel with guilt is not the actual murder of Mosescommitted by their ancestors, but the ongoing repression and distortion of thatdeed.”(Black, 2002)Imagine that an entire race (religious group) feels a collective guilt over an actionfrom their past so much so that they distort the true story so that futuregenerations will not know the truth. Distortion is another form of repression,hiding the truth from one’s own consciousness, however subconsciouslysuffering from its affects regardless of the defense mechanism used.As a remedy for using repression or any of the other defense mechanisms thatare conjured during times of stress over lack of healthy expression of sexual or psychic energy, Freud suggests using free association when working with clients.
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