Freud argued that internal unconscious constraints (e.g., the superego) either permit or limit Freud would argue, internal unconscious constraints) that either permit or limit our behavior within society. our behavior within society. Freud's was, in a nutshell, a theory of the structure and function of the human unconscious.

             Freud was a pioneer, a risk-taker, a maverick and an innovator, all qualities prized by Americans. In those respects Americans likely valued the man as well as his work (Fancher; Hale). And, in future decades, though orthodox Freudian psychoanalysis eventually fell out of favor, Freud's groundbreaking ideas continued at the cornerstone of related theories of psychiatry. Even American psychopharmacology, as we know it today, arguably owes something to Sigmund Freud's early published theories on "neuroses" (e.g., The Interpretation of Dreams, 1899, 1900) and "excited states" springing from neuroses (Dora, 1905) .

             Although Freud's theories did not immediately take off, following the initial set of lectures he delivered on American soil (held at a conference at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, from September 7 through September 11, 1909) (Fancher, 1998), Freud nevertheless received a warm and enthusiastic reception from his university audience, over a five-day period, as the featured speaker of the conference. Freud's lectures, delivered:.

             . . . in German and following no written text, [and] extemporaneously planned .

             on a walk with Ferenczi earlier in the day, . . . were a great success. His .

             audience was more multilingual than would be the case for a comparable .

             gathering today, and Freud fully revealed his skill as a cogent and captivating .

             lecturer, sprinkling his talks with small jokes and personal references that .

             everyone enjoyed. His lectures told the story, in roughly chronological order, .

             of how he had arrived at the main points of his theory and technique .