What is neurosis? How Sigmund Freud modeled the mind?
Sigmund Freud – the infamous and highly criticized psychologist and father of psychoanalysis – sheds light on a new and foreign phenomenon (Neurosis).
This is a continuation of Analyzing errors and Dreams from the book Introduction to psychoanalysis.
Freud has changed his opinion and views many times. He himself states that and is proud of his modifications. Yet I think he is still trustworthy, for who is not open to error?
In contrast, he who doesn’t change his opinions is stubborn, biased, and the most suspicious. At least he (apparently) is being himself and acting according to his own dictates.
Freud model of the mind:
The unconscious is like an ante-chamber – a house. In that house thoughts and impulses run freely and wildly. The conscious mind is a small room in that house, with a guard or a watcher sitting at the entrance. Only approved thought is allowed to reach the conscious. This watcher or censor is the same one that operates in Dreams.
Neurosis:
- Foreign psychological phenomenon
- Moved by impulses that seem alien
- Exhaust the individual till surrender
- Childish
- Impelled by actions that afford little pleasure
The main cause of neurosis is self-denial. When reality withheld the satisfaction of wishes.
There are natural psychological processes(among others) that are evolving. Reality and life intrude at some point, and these processes get stuck and continue to evolve in an “unhealthy” path.
Examples of intrusions:
- Reality demands
- Education
- Society
- Trauma
What is a traumatic experience?
At a very short space of time, one is able to increase the strength of a given (Outside) stimulus so enormously. A fixation occurs upon that moment/period of time.
Resistance in many shapes and colors, as well as, energetic denial takes place. Resistance grows from the forces of “I”, from self traits and character. Removing resistances by itself can unleash energy.
This explanation somehow reminds us of the philosopher Nietzche who said:
“The worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself” – Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Suppression occurs. The meaning of symptoms and neurosis is hidden in the unconscious. These thoughts can’t reach the conscious mind.
The symptoms continue to grow and evolve unconsciously. The symptom develops as a substitution for something else that is suppressed – something missing in life. Josef Breuer observed that as soon as the unconscious processes in question become conscious, the symptom disappear.
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