understand and explain human behavior. No theory that has followed has been more

complete, more complex, or more controversial. Some psychologists treat Freud's

writings as a sacred text - if Freud said it, it must be true. On the other hand, many have

accused Freud of being unscientific, proposing theories that are too complex ever to be

proved true or false. He revolutionized ideas on how the human mind works and the

theory that unconscious motives control much behavior. "He applied himself to a new

field of study...and struggled with an environment whose rejection of his work

endangered his livelihood and that of his family" (Freud 3). His work greatly improved

the fields of psychiatry and psychology and helped millions of mentally ill patients.

Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, Moravia, a region now in

the Czech Republic. His father was a wool merchant and was forty when he had

Sigmund, the oldest of eight children (Gay 78). When Freud turned four, his family

moved to Vienna, Austria. After graduating from the Spree Gymnasium, Freud was

inspired by an essay written by Goethe on nature, to make medicine as his c

Freud believed that patients used mass amounts of energy to form defense mechanisms

patient understand and deal with unpleasant feelings or painful memories, the symptoms

first presented in the 1890's, other physicians reacted with hostility. But Freud eventually

disputes Freud's enormous influence.

patients. While discussing the case history of one patient, Freud said:

(Gay 97). Tying up energy could affect a person's ability to lead a productive life, causing

treatment of mental illness helped form the basis of modern psychiatry. In psychology,

of the neurosis might then disappear.

major role in shaping one's behavior. He also concluded that the unconscious is full of

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1617
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)