Freud's ideas about the unconscious mind have changed a lot since he first came up with them in the late 1800s and early 1900s. At first, Freud thought of the unconscious as a place where thoughts, memories, and feelings are stored, even if we aren’t aware of them. He believed these hidden parts of our mind could still affect how we behave. He used a model of the mind that included three parts: the id, ego, and superego.
Freud believed that the unconscious mainly held repressed sexual and aggressive feelings. To uncover these hidden influences, he used techniques like free association and dream analysis. For example, if a patient dreamed about falling, Freud would say this could show their anxiety about unfulfilled desires.
As time went on, many people began to question Freud's ideas, especially his strong focus on sex and aggression. In the mid-20th century, behaviorism became popular, which shifted attention away from the mind’s hidden parts. Psychologists like B.F. Skinner argued that it was more important to study observable behavior rather than try to understand the unconscious mind. They thought Freud’s theories seemed more like guesswork.
In response to this, later psychologists like Carl Jung built on Freud's ideas but in new ways. Jung introduced the idea of the collective unconscious, which suggested that there are common symbols and experiences shared by people all over the world. This expanded the idea of the unconscious beyond just what individuals hide, to include things that connect all humans.
Today, Freud's ideas about the unconscious have been included in and challenged by many new theories. Cognitive psychology shows that much of our thinking happens without us realizing it. However, it doesn't focus a lot on repression. Instead, it looks at things like implicit biases and automatic thoughts, which show how unconscious processes still impact how we act. For example, someone might have biases against a certain group without realizing it, which can quietly affect their behavior.
In summary, Freud's ideas about the unconscious mind have evolved from mainly focusing on hidden desires to understanding many different psychological processes. While some of Freud's original theories have been changed or set aside, the main point—that a lot of what goes on in our minds happens outside of our awareness—still matters a lot in today’s psychology. Learning about the unconscious shows how complicated and interesting our minds really are!
Freud's ideas about the unconscious mind have changed a lot since he first came up with them in the late 1800s and early 1900s. At first, Freud thought of the unconscious as a place where thoughts, memories, and feelings are stored, even if we aren’t aware of them. He believed these hidden parts of our mind could still affect how we behave. He used a model of the mind that included three parts: the id, ego, and superego.
Freud believed that the unconscious mainly held repressed sexual and aggressive feelings. To uncover these hidden influences, he used techniques like free association and dream analysis. For example, if a patient dreamed about falling, Freud would say this could show their anxiety about unfulfilled desires.
As time went on, many people began to question Freud's ideas, especially his strong focus on sex and aggression. In the mid-20th century, behaviorism became popular, which shifted attention away from the mind’s hidden parts. Psychologists like B.F. Skinner argued that it was more important to study observable behavior rather than try to understand the unconscious mind. They thought Freud’s theories seemed more like guesswork.
In response to this, later psychologists like Carl Jung built on Freud's ideas but in new ways. Jung introduced the idea of the collective unconscious, which suggested that there are common symbols and experiences shared by people all over the world. This expanded the idea of the unconscious beyond just what individuals hide, to include things that connect all humans.
Today, Freud's ideas about the unconscious have been included in and challenged by many new theories. Cognitive psychology shows that much of our thinking happens without us realizing it. However, it doesn't focus a lot on repression. Instead, it looks at things like implicit biases and automatic thoughts, which show how unconscious processes still impact how we act. For example, someone might have biases against a certain group without realizing it, which can quietly affect their behavior.
In summary, Freud's ideas about the unconscious mind have evolved from mainly focusing on hidden desires to understanding many different psychological processes. While some of Freud's original theories have been changed or set aside, the main point—that a lot of what goes on in our minds happens outside of our awareness—still matters a lot in today’s psychology. Learning about the unconscious shows how complicated and interesting our minds really are!