Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud ( FROYD; German: [ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfrɔʏt]; born Sigismund Schlomo Freud; 6 May 1856 – 23 September 1939) was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for evaluating and treating pathologies seen as originating from conflicts in the psyche, through dialogue between patient and psychoanalyst, and the distinctive theory of mind and human agency derived from it.
Freud was born to Galician Jewish parents in the Moravian town of Freiberg, in the Austrian Empire. He qualified as a doctor of medicine in 1881 at the University of Vienna. Upon completing his habilitation in 1885, he was appointed a docent in neuropathology and became an affiliated professor in 1902. Freud lived and worked in Vienna having set up his clinical practice there in 1886. Following the German annexation of Austria in March 1938, Freud left Austria to escape Nazi persecution. He died in exile in the United Kingdom in 1939.
In founding psychoanalysis, Freud developed therapeutic techniques such as the use of free association and discovered transference, establishing its central role in the analytic process. Freud’s redefinition of sexuality to include its infantile forms led him to formulate the Oedipus complex as the central tenet of psychoanalytical theory. His analysis of dreams as wish-fulfilments provided him with models for the clinical analysis of symptom formation and the underlying mechanisms of repression. On this basis, Freud elaborated his theory of the unconscious and went on to develop a model of psychic structure comprising id, ego and super-ego. Freud postulated the existence of libido, sexualised energy with which mental processes and structures are invested and which generates erotic attachments, and a death drive, the source of compulsive repetition, hate, aggression, and neurotic guilt. In his later work, Freud developed a wide-ranging interpretation and critique of religion and culture.
Though in overall decline as a diagnostic and clinical practice, psychoanalysis remains influential within psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and across the humanities. It thus continues to generate extensive and highly contested debate concerning its therapeutic efficacy, its scientific status, and whether it advances or hinders the feminist cause. Nonetheless, Freud’s work has suffused contemporary Western thought and popular culture. W. H. Auden’s 1940 poetic tribute to Freud describes him as having created “a whole climate of opinion / under whom we conduct our different lives”.
HOW FREUD UNDERSTAND****S THE CONCEPT OF NARCISSISM
The idea of ‘narcissism’ is introduced by Freud. He describes it as worship, which one accepts as an entity of sexual urges. He sees a kind of neurosis in narcissism. He also postulates, however, that throughout its development, all humans have some narcissistic level. Freud distinguishes two kinds of narcissism in his work: primary and secondary (Freud, 1914). In all human beings, primary narcissism pre-exists; this kind of energy is prevalent since birth. He hypothesizes this should be the sort of narcissism, which makes people love an object. For example, the primary narcissism results from a mother expressing her child’s unadulterated love. Furthermore, he speculates that this energy is the same as that seen in young children. At this time in life, children often believe that they are great beings who can perform amazing achievements only through words.
But even so, this primary narcissism is aimed directly toward an object at some time in life. This is due to the fact that the individual causes too much conflict. Freud speculates that secondary narcissism develops when people turn this affection around (Lone, 2019). This after the intimacy was already projected outside to other objects. The result is that a person is separated from society and disinterested in others. Freud pretends that such a person has low self-esteem. This is because they cannot express and reject the love of others. Such a person is also full of despair, guilt and frequently very defensive (Lone, 2019). The reason for this is that narcissism leads a person to seek self-protection.
Freud speculated from different sources about this narcissism in his work. The person is driven first by the need to preserve oneself; secondly, the person is driven by the drive towards sex, mainly the need to reproduce. These two drives usually are identical during childhood and no difference can be made. In essence, because the more “libido” affects others, the less energy it gives for self-love “ego-libido.” The greater the effect of “libido.” Essentially Freud posits the object libido as a result of the necessity to ensure the species’ survival. Freud argues therefore that the love concept is to guarantee the continued existence of the species. He also argues that a sensitive balance between the different libidos is necessary for the individual and the species to survive. For example, if a person wants to eat, he must have an ego-libido, but he must have object-libido if he wants the species to survive. An imbalance happens if the individual receives too much energy. It leads to an infection of the individual’s personality and to a lack of social functioning.
In conclusion, it is evident that Freud’s work has generated much criticism over the years, particularly in relation to homosexuality (Michael, 2017). Nevertheless, even his critics are still inspired by their own psychoanalytic theories. For example, the present societies are probably some of the most narcissistic in history. His work is still relevant today. Many scholars are interested in the phenomenon in which young and old people have developed a lack of mutual empathy. But Freud can’t give all the answers to this phenomenon rather complex work. However, the role of the family in the development of individuals into caring members of a society raises interesting issues.
REFERENCES
Zauraiz Lone, 2019, Freud and the Nature of Narcissism, https://psychcentral.com/pro/freud-and-the-nature-of-narcissism#1, (Accessed on 2nd May 2021)
Shulman, Michael. (2017). Teaching Freud’s “On narcissism: An introduction”.
Freud, S. (1914). On Narcissism. The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Volume XIV (1914-1916): On the History of the Psycho-Analytic Movement, Papers on Metapsychology and Other Works, 67-102
Freud’s Concept of Homosexuality as Narcissistic Love
In his psychoanalytic theory, Freud posited that homosexuality stems from a narcissistic object choice, meaning individuals seek a love object that resembles and reflects their own ego, rather than a traditional, heterosexual relationship built on anaclitic attachment to a different sex.
Here’s a more detailed explanation of Freud’s concept of homosexuality as narcissistic love:
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Narcissistic Object Choice:
Freud identified two main types of object choice in sexual development: anaclitic (attachment to a love object) and narcissistic (love for one’s own image). He argued that homosexual individuals, in contrast to heterosexuals, develop a narcissistic object choice, focusing on a love object that embodies the qualities they admire in themselves.
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Early Development:
Freud believed that homosexuals fixated on a narcissistic basis during early childhood, having had a strong bond with their mother and identifying with her, leading them to seek objects that resemble their self, rather than renouncing the object.
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Identification with Mother:
Freud suggested that some homosexual men fixated on their mothers during the Oedipus complex, identifying with the mother rather than the father and then seeking a love object resembling themselves.
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Reversed Narcissism:
Freud viewed homosexuality as a perversion where narcissism takes over as the object choice.
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Not a Pathological Condition:
Despite the theory’s historical association with pathologizing homosexuality, Freud later acknowledged that homosexuality is a variation of sexual function, not an illness. He considered it neither a virtue nor a vice.
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Evolution of Thinking:
Freud’s understanding of homosexuality evolved over time. While initially viewing it as a narcissistic fixation, later writings acknowledged homosexuality as a normal variation of sexual function.
It’s crucial to remember that Freud’s theories, though influential, are not universally accepted as definitive explanations for homosexuality. Modern perspectives on sexual orientation acknowledge the complexity of human sexuality and the diversity of factors that contribute to an individual’s sexual orientation.