There was a section in our last set of readings that attributed some detail of Sigmund Freud's theories with certain gender topics. I recently read that it is of popular consensus in the scientific community that Freud was, in fact, a fraud. Apparently there are only six fully recorded case reports of his and of those, it was found that none of those patients were helped from Freud's therapy. The information can be found most notoriously in Frederick Crews' book, Unauthorized Freud. Additional info can also be found in various articles from the New York Times, National Review, Stanford World Association of International Studies and more. My point is the amount of significant cultural influence Freud had on 19th Century society, specifically feminism and the female psyche, and how much of that seeped into traditional views still held today. Granted Freud's Oedipal Theory (you know, that disturbing bit of psychoanalysis about little girls wanting to have sex with dad and get rid of the competition: mom) and other female notions are certainly archaic in today's modern realm of psychology, it nevertheless held a great deal of influence at the time. Freud followers would elaborate on Freud's models and establish theories that degraded and placed even more heavy stereotypical bias on women. One example is a psychologist by the name of Lawrence Kohlberg who published that women were cemented in lower developmental levels of morality and values due to their inability to utilize the then norms of society, but rather dwell on trite nonsensical issues about other women, other relationships, etc. In other words, gossip.
Had anyone else heard of this about Freud before? Is anyone a Freud follower (and I have I offended you? oops!) If this truly is the case, no pun intended, could such a monumental figure in history really contribute that much influence?
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Nik (or is it Nick?)
ReplyDeleteI thought that Freud was a cocaine addict but there were a couple/few of his theories that some psychiatrists still follow - I thought the Oedipal/Electra Complex was one that people still believed in - and that was his theory? But you are right - his influence is amazing for a drug addled man. But, you know, he talked a lot about sex and peoples ears prick (no pun intended) up when they hear sex. I don't know that much about him or his theories except the possible one above.
I recently saw something somewhere - I can never remember where - that said there are quotes out there (on the internet, in our lexicon) that are attributed to the wrong people and we just keep perpetuating the incorrect information that it becomes what everyone perceives is the correct information. Very scary but true. So although Freud may have been a nutcase or drug addict, or completely on target, we'll probably never know.
Taryn
I have long believed that Freud's work (and his followers) was more of a product of the time then actual research by today's standard. Most current mental health professionals, and psychology texts give little respect to the majority of his theories. He did however give us psychoanalysis, which is valuable and surely has changed a lot since his times, but none the less is credited to Freud.
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