Various psychologists from history have influenced our current understanding of psychology. This article will examine three of the most significant psychologists: Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud, and Abraham Maslow. Sigmund Freud was born in May 1856 in Austria to Galician Jewish parents. He was a neurologist who made many significant observations, but this article will focus on his theories regarding the conscious and unconscious mind, psychosexual development, dream interpretation, and psychoanalytic theory. Freud’s conception of the mind proposed that it consisted of three distinct personalities: the id, ego, and superego. The id represented hidden desires driven by human instincts, while the superego reflected the adherence to societal norms and morals. The ego functioned as the intermediary between the two, attempting to realistically satisfy both. Freud also noted that the ego developed during early childhood at the age of 3, while the superego formed at age 5 as the final personality. He argued that anxiety, neurosis, and detrimental behavior arose from the imbalance among these personalities. Freud’s subsequent theory of psychosexual development was regarded as discomforting and contentious, claiming that an adult’s developed behavior and personality stem from psychosexual stages during childhood. This indicated that children sought pleasure from the id in specific body areas identified as erogenous zones. The stages included oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. Freud theorized that issues arising in childhood would resurface, causing mental health challenges in adulthood. In his work, The Interpretation of Dreams, Freud asserted that dreams originated from the unconscious mind, symbolizing the unfulfilled desires of the id attempting to penetrate the conscious. The reason for an unrealistic dream was said to be the fulfillment of unacceptable wishes, using symbolism to obscure and disguise what is considered inappropriate. Consequently, Freud devised various methods to interpret and comprehend dreams, including condensation, displacement, representation, and secondary revision. Finally, psychoanalytic theory provided an in-depth exploration of human behavior. Like psychosexual development, Freud emphasized that early childhood experiences shape adult personality, especially traumatic experiences. He speculated that such experiences could be hidden in our consciousness, potentially leading to future issues. Thus, he introduced psychoanalysis, characterized by psychoanalytic theory—a verbal therapy approach to assist mental health patients by uncovering these suppressed feelings. As a result, he earned the title of the ‘father of psychoanalysis.’
One aspect of psychoanalysis is defense mechanisms, which are unconscious tactics that aid one’s ego, the rational part of the mind, in alleviating the anxiety stemming from internal mental conflicts. These internal conflicts arise between the impulses expressed by the id and the moral standards of the superego, the component of the mind that serves as a self-critical conscience. These internal disputes and the strategies employed by the ego are believed to be the driving factors behind a person’s behavior, as they illustrate how an individual unconsciously shields themselves from emotional suffering and turmoil. Typically, the ego distorts or redirects the thoughts and feelings generated by the id to comply with the superego. Common examples include projecting the id’s impulses onto others, causing the mind to persuade the superego that one is superior to such primal urges. Another defense mechanism is displacement, where an individual redirects unacceptable emotions, often anger or jealousy, toward an object or person perceived as an appropriate target for the ego/superego. An alternative projection mechanism is sublimation, wherein one channels their unconscious desires into productive and ‘healthier’ or more ‘acceptable’ endeavors. For instance, a surgeon might be sublimating unconscious aggression into performing surgical procedures aimed at healing.
Freud introduced the concept of an unconscious life “drive” or instinct known as libido, believed to energize or support the mental activities of the id. This instinct seeks to evade emotional or physical distress, basic physical needs, and other primal drives. This instinct constitutes the second primary principle of Freudian psychoanalytic theory, asserting that all human actions are motivated by sexuality; here, sexuality encompasses anything that can provide pleasure. As with many elements of psychoanalysis related to the unconscious, this instinct faces opposition from the ego or superego, where the resultant conflict influences aspects such as impulse control. For example, a person possessing an overactive libido and an underdeveloped superego may lack remorse or critical assessment regarding the consequences of their actions in pursuit of their unconscious cravings.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a renowned theory that elucidates people’s motivations, beginning with basic needs and advancing to more intricate concepts. It was developed and articulated by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in 1943 and