Open-Secrets

Tag: sigmund freud

  • Freud’s Psyche – Psyched on Freud

    Neurosis-neurotic-freudHow Neurotic was Sigmund Freud?

    There’s no doubt that Sigmund Freud has made a huge contribution to the evolution and well being of mankind. Freud’s insight into human nature and his exploration of the human psyche laid the groundwork for most western psychological theory and understanding in the world today.

    From Object Relations Theory to Depth Psychology and Self Psychology to Transpersonal Psychology, Freud’s influence is seen throughout them all. Margaret Mahler, Heinz Kohut, D.W. Winnicott and every other pioneer of human psychology owe a debt to Freud.

    But, the question remains – how neurotic was Sigmund Freud? I don’t believe there are very many people on the planet free of some degree of neurosis. Many of Freud’s theories and postulates have come under scrutiny and challenge. This is normal for those pushing the envelope of human understanding and Freud was certainly pushing the envelope in his day.

    Freud and Groucho Marx would have been a great YouTube video. A 4 minute dialogue on cigars could have been one of the great viral videos of all time.

    I think it was my last post that mentioned penis envy that got me to thinking about Freud and his neurosis.

    When it comes to our personal growth and unfoldment, keeping an open mind about our possible blind spots is an invaluable asset. Using our friends to identify these doorways into deeper self-knowledge is great blessing – something Freud seems to have had a problem with.

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  • Ego Functions

    Ego_functionsIs your ego functioning? What are ego’s functions? Do they serve you or entrap you?

    The granddaddy of psychology, Sigmund Freud, said the ego functioned to manage the instincts and defenses against them.

    According to Carl Jung, the four ways of interpreting reality are the four ego-functions – Sensation, Thinking, Feeling, and Intuition. These consist of two diametrically-opposed pairs. Thinking is the opposite of Feeling, and Sensation the opposite of Intuition.

    Sounds like the foundation of the Meyers-Briggs test. Are you more thinking or feeling? More sensate or intuitive?

    Heinz Hartmann has a few more ego functions up his sleeve – synthesis, integration, regulation, organization, anticipation, tension, decision making, delay, drive taming, identification, intelligence, intention, judgment, language, memory, motility, neutralization, object comprehension, object relations, perception, productivity, reality testing, self-preservation, speech, symbolization, thinking, defense and volition.

    The deeper our knowledge and wisdom of psychology goes, the more we learn about ego, ego structure and ego function, but the question remains for those on the spiritual path – what is being served, defended against or ignored?

     

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