Historical and Cultural Context
|
Sigmund Freud has been both admired and criticized for his radical ideas. "The sociologist and Freud scholar Philip Rieff said in 1959 that 'the greatness of the man is beyond question, complementing the greatness of his mind,' and rated his writing 'perhaps the most important body of thought committed to paper in the twentieth century' (Hunt, 1993, p. 166). Others are not so enthusiastic. "...English scholar, E.M. Thornton, gathered up bits of evidence that, in her opinion, prove 'that [Freud's] central postulate, the 'unconscious mind,' does not exist, that his theories were baseless and aberrational,' that he formulated them while under the influence of cocaine, and that he was 'a false and faithless prophet.' " (Hunt, 1993, p. 167). |
|---|
Whatever your perception of Freud, there is little argument that his work has influenced the way we think about ourselves and others. Most everyone understands the concept of defense mechanisms, and we all know that we don't want to go partying with someone who has a strong superego!
How does a conservative Jewish boy from a financially struggling family in an anti-Semitic society grow up to be a groundbreaking theorist in the study of human nature? How did these cultural influences impact his thinking?
In an attempt to answer these questions, in this Adventure you will explore the influence of religion, culture, gender roles, and family of origin on the development of Freud's theory.
To enhance your learning and application of the ideas presented here, you will also consider how similar influences in your own life have impacted your beliefs about how humans are motivated, think and behave.
I hope that you will find this Adventure to be stimulating and thought-provoking!
 |
Lesson 1: The Influence of Religion |
|---|---|
 |
Lesson 2: Oppression |
 |
Lesson 3: The Role of Women |
 |
Lesson 4: Family of Origin |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Patricia Robey
Governors State University
Last Updated on November 16, 2006