Freud's Thinking: An Introduction

Mikkel Borch-Jacobsen provides an overview of Freud's theories, highlighting their indebtedness to contemporary neurophysiological and biological assumptions. Freud's theories were speculative constructs placed on clinical material to satisfy the requirements of his general theory of the mind and culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In this comprehensive introduction to Freud's theories, Mikkel Borch-Jacobsen offers a detailed exploration of his ideas regarding the unconscious, the cure, sexuality, drives, and culture. By highlighting their reliance on contemporary neurophysiological and biological assumptions, Borch-Jacobsen presents a nuanced understanding of Freud's thought. Contrary to the image of Freud as a mere fact-finding scientist, the author reveals a different perspective. The bold conceptual innovations, such as repression, infantile sexuality, the Oedipus complex, narcissism, and the death drive, emerged as speculative constructs rather than discoveries made solely from clinical material. These constructs were strategically placed within Freud's general theory of the mind and culture to fulfill its requirements. Freud's Thinking serves as a definitive account of this illusion of the mind that underpins psychoanalysis.

The unconscious: Freud's concept of the unconscious holds a central place in his theories. He believed that the unconscious contains repressed desires, memories, and impulses that exert influence on our behavior and mental processes. The unconscious is often associated with the irrational and the forbidden, and its exploration through psychoanalysis aimed to bring these suppressed elements to the conscious.

The cure: Freud's approach to the cure focused on the release of repressed emotions and the exploration of the patient's unconscious. He believed that by bringing these suppressed elements to the surface, patients could achieve emotional healing and mental well-being. Freud's therapeutic techniques, such as free association, dream analysis, and transference, were designed to facilitate this process.

Sexuality: Freud's theories on sexuality were complex and multifaceted. He believed that sexual desire and behavior are influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, and cultural factors. Freud's concept of the Oedipus complex, in which a child develops a sexual desire for their parent and subsequently conflicts with this desire, is one of his most well-known contributions to the field.

Drives: Freud identified several primary drives that govern human behavior. These include the sexual drive, the aggressive drive, and the death drive. The sexual drive is associated with the desire for sexual gratification, while the aggressive drive is associated with the desire for dominance and control. The death drive, on the other hand, is associated with the desire for destruction and the release of tension.

Culture: Freud's theories on culture played a significant role in his understanding of human behavior. He believed that cultural norms, values, and beliefs shape our behavior and mental processes. Freud's analysis of the role.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009371148