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History and Evolution of Freudian Theory
Craig Goodwin-Ortiz de Leon
Grand Canyon University
PSY-802 - Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Theory
Dr. K. McCann
October 5, 2020
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History and Evolution of Freudian Theory
The first area of focus for this course was the chronological development of Freudian
theory and how Freud’s thinking about certain psychological theories evolved. Studying
Freudian theory helps learners establish a theoretical foundation as they progress to more
advanced psychology studies. Freud’s work was groundbreaking. His theories of the workings of
the unconscious mind are still an integral part of psychological studies (Ellman 2010; Sletvold,
2016), and many of his theories are the source of controversy. This essay will discuss Freudian
theory: early development, which consists of the first ten years of his work, the beginning of the
psychosexual development era when Freud focused on studying dreams and sexuality, and his
structural model. Additionally, the alignment of Freudian theory with culture and the Christian
worldview will be discussed with a review of how this alignment led to the development of NeoFreudian theories and continued evolution of the field of psychology.
The First 10 Years
Hysteria and defense
Hysteria is a psychological disorder with physical manifestations (e.g., blindness,
paralysis) that has puzzled scientists and philosophers for centuries (Ellman, 2018; Michael,
2018). Freud was attracted to searching for the etiology of hysteria while working with Josef
Breuer and hearing about his work with Breuer’s patient, “Anna O” (Ellman, 2018; Michael,
2018). Freud’s work with Breuer led to their theory that hysteria was caused by the suppressed
memories of traumatic events that had occurred in the patients’ past (Ellman, 2018; Michael,
2018; Sletvold, 2016). Freud termed the suppression of these memories defense because they
required an active process by the patient to push back against the memories’ psychical
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trauma(Sletvold, 2016). Freud’s development of the defense concept is where he began to depart
from Breuer’s theories(Ellman, 2018; Michael, 2018).
Childhood sexuality
In Freud’s continued interest in determining neuroses’ etiology, he began to depart
further from the theory of traumatic hysteria he developed with Breuer. As he became influenced
by Charcot and Chrobak, he was increasingly convinced that a patient’s sexual life was at the
heart of their psychological disorders (Donley, 1911; Ellman, 2018; Sletvold, 2016). Freud
insisted in his earlier work that hysterical patients suffered sexual abuse as children; however, his
self-analysis allowed him to abandon this seduction theory (Ellman, 2018; Sletvold, 2016).
Childhood sexuality remained a basis for his theories in future papers, mostly at the exclusion of
other explanations for neuroses (Donley, 1911; Ellman, 2018; Sletvold, 2016).
Psychosexual Development
Psychosexuality
Freud believed that sexuality was part of everyone’s childhood, not only people who
suffered childhood sexual abuse. Furthermore, there is a relationship between childhood
sexuality (autoeroticism) and adult sexuality (object love) (Ellman, 2018). Children focus on
pleasures that can be obtained during early childhood through their own body’s various
erotogenic zones (Ellman, 2018; Garcia, 1995). For example, eating provides pleasure in the oral
zone. The other zones include the phallic and anal. Eventually, children reach the latency stage,
where no sexual activity occurs. Finally, at puberty, the child begins to project its sexual
fantasies on others (Gullestad, 2020).
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Dreams as a psychoanalytical tool
Freud used dreams as a tool to examine the cognitive processes of the human mind and
considered dreams to be the key to unlocking the ideas that reside in the unconscious mind
(Ellman, 2018; Messer & McWilliams, 2004). To Freud, dreams represented unfulfilled wishes
that may be conscious or unconscious desires, and most of the unconscious desires are sourced
from childhood experiences (Ellman, 2018). Freud’s work with dream interpretation to relieve
psychological suffering had a significant impact during his lifetime and continues to be cited
today (Messer & McWilliams, 2004). Furthermore, this work complemented his concepts of
primary and secondary processes in the mind, called the topographical model, that allows people
to have vivid dreams yet stay asleep, which is a function of regression and were precursors to
Freud’s structural model (Ellman, 2018).
Freud’s Structural Model
As Freud’s clinical practice developed, his ideas of how the primary and secondary
systems became more complicated than his initial concepts. He had previously identified
conscious and unconscious thoughts that controlled a person’s behavior (Ellman, 2018). Later,
he developed the structural model that further developed the conscious and unconscious areas of
the mind.
The id, ego, and superego
Freud’s structural model divides the mind into three structures, even though these
structures do not necessarily equate to physical locations in the brain. This model was a
significant departure from Freud’s topographic model, which consisted of the Ucs., Pcs. And Cs.
Systems (Brenner, 2003; Ellman, 2018). Freud’s modification (or abandonment) of the
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topographic model speaks to his willingness to be critical of his work (Messer & McWilliams,
2004).
The structural model divides the mind into three significant components. The id resides in
the unconscious and consists of a person’s basic drives and instincts and, left uncontrolled,
would allow people to behave at will and get anything they want at all costs (Brenner, 2003;
Ellman, 2018). The ego is the closest to consciousness and represents a sense of presence and
connection to the body (Ellman, 2018). It touches both the id and the external world and provides
the evidence needed for decision-making. The third structure, called the superego, opposes the id
by being bound to rules and morality, resulting in feelings of guilt (Brenner, 2003; Ellman,
2018). A vital concept of the structural model is that much of our mentation happens in our
unconscious mind and very little of it happens consciously (Brenner, 2003; Ellman, 2018).
Oedipus complex
The structural model provides Freud with a framework to describe the Oedipus complex
and anxiety. For Freud, the Oedipus complex was the foundation of psychoanalytic theory
(Ellman, 2018). He began discovering elements of the Oedipus complex as early as 1897 and
developed his theory well into the twentieth century (Ellman, 2018; Hartke, 2016). A child’s
oedipal experience is essential in forming the unconscious and plays an essential role in the
development of an individual’s sexual identity (Hartke, 2016). In the oedipal drama, the child
has sexual feelings for one of the parents (positive for the opposite gender and negative for the
parent of the same gender) and aggressive feelings for the other (Ellman, 2018; Hartke, 2016).
Of course, children do not have the same sexual desires as adults, so they do not understand their
feelings in a conscious way (Ellman, 2018). Freud posited that boys experience castration
anxiety (fear of losing their penis) and girls experience penis envy (that they have been castrated
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or the mother failed to provide them with a penis), an idea that remains controversial in feminist
thought (Hartke, 2016).
Discussion
Freudian theory’s relationship with culture
The theories of Freud, particularly those dealing with sexuality, have long been discussed
by academics and laypeople alike and have had cultural and political implications (Kramer,
1996). Freud’s theory of the Oedipus complex pointing out differences among the genders may
have been misinterpreted as men being superior to women, a controversy that is yet to be settled
(Hartke, 2016; Kramer, 1996). Additionally, many questions surround Freud’s theories
concerning the etiology and acceptability of homosexuality. Even though Freud himself
denounced discrimination against homosexuals, he could not determine its exact etiology
(Ellman, 2018; Hartke, 2016; Kramer, 1996). While homosexuality is no longer listed as a
psychological disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American
Psychiatric Association, 2013), there is still controversy surrounding this issue (Kramer, 1996).
Freudian theory and the Christian worldview
Freud predicted that the advancement of science and culture would lead to religion's
demise because he posited that religion is an element of the unconscious mind (Combres &
Askofaré, 2013). One could say that his prediction has materialized because many people have
turned away from faith in the name of science (Rolston, 2015). However, the Christian
Worldview provides a framework for dealing with others so that scientific knowledge does not.
Using Christian ideals to make sense of our thoughts and subconscious reactions to external
events can fill in what science has not addressed.
Neo-Freudian theories and development of psychoanalytic theory
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Freud’s theories allowed some analysts who followed him to clarify and develop his
theories. Anna Klein clarified the structural model's relationships and named ten defensive
mechanisms (Ellman, 2018). Heinz Hartmann, conversely, rejects some of Freud’s theories,
including his concept of primary processes in relation to secondary processes (Ellman, 2018).
Hartmann’s work has played a minor role in the psychoanalytic literature; however, his and
Anna Freud’s work with the surface of the mind was influential in developing theory (Ellman,
2018).
Melanie Klein’s work with children led to friction with Anna Freud in the academic
world (Ellman, 2018). However, Klein’s object relations theory posits that the oedipal drama
occurs earlier than Sigmond Freud’s theory (Blazina, 2001; Ellman, 2018). This division within
the British Psychoanalytic Society led to three groups of rivals: Freudians, Kleinians, and those
in the middle. These three schools of thought form the foundation of psychoanalytic theory as it
stands now (Ellman, 2018).
Conclusion
The first few weeks of this course focused on the historical development of Freud’s
theories. Several general themes were discussed and reviewed, including early development, the
topographical model, and the structural model. Freud’s work developing models of the conscious
mind was genuinely groundbreaking, leading to further development by Anna Freud, Heinz
Hartmann, and Melanie Klein. Freud’s ability to re-examine his earlier theories and discard or
revise them showed how seriously he took his craft.
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