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Sigmund Freud’s legacy as the founder of psychoanalysis is undeniable, and his impact on the understanding of the human mind continues to resonate across the globe.
In today’s article, we take a look into his life as we explore more on his cause of death and how it all happened.
Sigmund Freud’s Biography
Sigmund Freud, born on May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, Moravia (now known as Příbor, Czech Republic), was a prominent Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis.
Freud, widely regarded as one of the most significant individuals in psychology, revolutionised our understanding of the human mind and its intricacies.
Jakob and Amalia Nathanson, both Galician Jews, gave birth to Freud. His father, Jakob Freud, was a prosperous wool merchant, and his mother hailed from a well-to-do family. Freud was the first child of eight, having two older half-brothers from his father’s previous marriage.
Freud was raised in a Jewish household and was exposed to Jewish traditions and religious studies. Despite his father’s departure from Hasidic Jewish traditions, he remained dedicated to Torah studies, which influenced Freud’s intellectual growth.
Freud was an extraordinary student from an early age. He enrolled at the University of Vienna to study medicine in 1873. Freud was mentored at university by notable academics such as Franz Brentano, Ernst Brücke, and Carl Claus, who gave him a solid basis in neurology.
Freud graduated from medical school in 1881 and went on to specialise in neurology. In 1885, he finished his habilitation and became a docent in neuropathology at the University of Vienna. He became an affiliated professor at the same university in 1902.
He immediately acquired prominence in the medical community due to his exceptional expertise and understanding of the human psyche.
Freud established his clinical practise in Vienna in 1886, where he spent most of his professional career. During this time, he established the pioneering theories and therapeutic practises that would serve as the foundation of psychoanalysis.
Freud made numerous contributions to psychoanalysis. He pioneered the use of free association, encouraging patients to express themselves openly and without censorship. He also discovered the concept of transference, which he recognised as important in the therapeutic process.
The Oedipus complex, one of Freud’s most popular theories, states that children develop unconscious sexual impulses for their opposite-sex parent and feelings of competition towards the same-sex parent.
This notion transformed our knowledge of human sexuality and its impact on individual behaviour.
The interpretation of dreams as wish-fulfillment by Freud had a tremendous impact on the field of psychoanalysis.
Dreams, he argued, were manifestations of repressed urges as well as symbolic representations of inner conflicts. This approach paved the way for clinical symptom analysis and the research of suppression.
Freud refined his theories and expanded his understanding of the human mind during his lifetime. He proposed that our ideas, feelings, and wants exist outside of conscious consciousness yet nonetheless impact our behaviour.
Freud proposed a psychological structure model that included the id, ego, and superego.
The id symbolises primordial instincts and desires, the ego mediates between the id’s desires and the superego’s moral standards, and the superego embodies society norms and moral principles, according to this paradigm.
Freud’s work was not limited to psychology. He investigated religion and culture objectively, offering intelligent interpretations and critiques.
Despite criticism and controversy, his thoughts and ideas have left an indelible mark on current Western thought and popular culture.
Following Germany’s acquisition of Austria in March 1938, Freud fled the nation to avoid Nazi persecution. He relocated to England and settled in Hampstead, London, where he died on September 23, 1939.
Psychoanalysis is still widely used in psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy today. It continues to spark controversy about its therapeutic efficacy and scientific legitimacy, as well as feminism-related discussions.
Sigmund Freud’s Cause Of Death
Sigmund Freud’s Cause Of Death is reported to have been due to an overdose of morphine drug intake. He had cancer of the jaw.
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