Historical contributions of a Sigmund Frued to the field of psychology Term Paper

Historical contributions of a Sigmund Frued to the field of psychology - Term Paper Example As such, Freudian concepts, which were widely debated among his followers and scholars, were deemed to be controversial yet remained to be worthy of our examination and understanding. This paper will look back at the historical contributions of a Sigmund Freud to the field of psychology. By examining his early life, one can explore his childhood and its influence on his understanding of human behavior. Also, his theories on dream interpretation, psychosexual development, the id and the ego, psychological repression, and transference will be explored to know more about his controversial theories in psychology. Moreover, by taking a look at three of Freud’s notable followers, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and his daughter Dr. Anna Freud, one can explore on how Freud’s ideas have influenced his followers to develop their own theory of the mind. Finally, discussion of Freud’s legacy and contribution to psychology will seal his achievements as one of the most important thi nkers in the 20th century. Early Life On May 6, 1856, Sigismund Schlomo Freud was born in Freiberg, Moravia - a small town which was then part of the Austrian Empire, now known as the Czech Republic. His father, Jacob was a textile dealer and had two children by previous marriage. His mother Amala, who was 20 years younger than his father, gave birth to his first son Sigmund at age 21. Being the first child of eight siblings and in accordance to Jewish tradition, young Sigmund became the favorite in the family. He grew up "partially assimilated, mostly secular Jew†. Soon, Freud would become loyal follower of 19th century positivists in which he pointed the distinction between religious faith (which is not checkable or correctable) and scientific inquiry (which is both). For himself, this meant the denial of truth-value to any religion whatever, including Judaism.   A. Life & Education in Vienna When he was four years old, his father met a business failure and this made his f amily to move from the mountains of Moravia to a cosmopolitan metropolis in Vienna. A bright boy, Freud was admitted to a gymnasium in Leopoldstadt a year ahead of his time in 1865. By the time he graduated in 1873, he was awarded with honors. Initially, Freud intended to study law, but then decided to enter Medical School after having attended a lecture on Goethe's essay On Nature. He then joined the medical faculty at the University of Vienna where he obtained his doctorate in medicine. As early as from  1876  to  1882, Freud worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Physiology under Ernst Brucke, with neurology as his main focus.    In 1885 Freud received a one-year scholarship with Charcot at the "Salpetriere" in Paris. In 1886 Freud opened his first neurologist's office in Vienna, Rathausstrasse 7. Under Jean-Martin Charcot, Freud practiced and observed hypnosis as a clinical technique, and began to formulate the beginnings of his theory on the mind. Freud went on to make nervous ailments his specialty, concentrating on hysteria. B. Published Works By 1895, the year he published  Studies on Hysteria  with Josef Breuer, he had made significant progress in mapping out and defining his own theory of the mind. A period of intense work and self-analysis, further inspired by the death of his father, led Freud to his publication of  The Interpretation of Dreams  in 1900 and of  Psychopathology of Everyday Life  in 1901. The latter work, offering amusing and easily applicable anecdotes of Freudian slips, found a wide audience for his theories of the mind. By 1902 he finally gained the position of associate professor at the University of Vienna. In 1908 Freud established a Psychoanalytic society in Vienna, and thus his

The ticking time bomb Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The ticking time bomb - Term Paper Example The human race is a distinct species; this is with regards to envisaging its future actions. As such, it will be engaging in conjectures without content if this paper states that good will always persist. With the aim of producing an unbiased paper, these baseless conceptions shall not be propagated within the confines of this paper. In some situations, it is requisite to entertain evil deeds for the benefit of the greater good. This entails willfully inflicting pain on certain individuals, terrorism suspects, so as to maintain peace and harmony of the greater society. However, a problem arises when an attempt is made on what greater good justifies the use of evil or bad deeds on a fellow human being. One such deed is the use of torture on fellow human beings so as to benefit the greater human race. This paper endeavors to expound on whether torture can be justified in situations exemplified by a ticking time bomb. A variety of literal works have been put forward that embark on eithe r support or oppose the notion that torture can in some situations be justified. This paper will analyze the understandings of one proponent of torture, Professor Alan Dershowitz. Additionally, the conclusions of the Landau commission will also be explicated. Analysis In Professor Alan Dershowitz’s article in the Darmer text, he goes to great lengths to expound on why terrorism has been successful thus far (Darmer et al, p. 188-89) .He proceeds to give remedies to this escalating situation. However, he insists that there be a well defined line between matters regarding national security and civil liberties. The relevant authorities should no be so preoccupied by their desire to maintain national security to the extent that they impinge on the civil liberties of the suspected terrorist. Professor Dershowitz explicates on the vitality of torture with regards to sustenance of the human race, more precisely, the society. He contends that the society, in regards to terrorism, cann ot be expected to have its cake and eat it too. In between the lines, Dershowitz raises an assortment of questions, both in the legal and moral context, as to how effective the society will be able to deter random acts of terrorism while, still judiciously perpetuating essential values relating to both the liberty and privacy of man (Darmer et al, p. 192-94). Professor Dershowitz is of the opinion that the route adopted by the police, in combating perpetrators of terrorism is inappropriate. This is because these individuals are most often rational thinkers who engage in these heinous acts so as to draw attention towards them. Therefore, the police are basically aiding them to achieve their life’s goals.Per se, a different itinerary should be espoused by the police if terrorism is to be effectively combated. In this context, professor Dershowitz is offering the understanding that punishing these perpetrators will ultimately deter a significant number of terrorism events. As su ch, this provides an alternative action to be employed in similar situations, as it also upholds the civil liberties of all persons; as should be the case in every democratic society. This juncture culminates into one of the most controversial proposals attributed to Dershowitz. This is the use of torture that has been judicially sanctioned. However, he substantiates the specific instances that this mechanism can be employed on a suspect. He gives a caution that torture is not an act that is applied to just any suspect, but rather on a