Rediscovery and Regression Dreams and the Self in The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud essays

Rediscovery and Regression Dreams and the Self in The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud essays The development of human society in the 19th and 20th centuries is characterized by the emergence of individualism, where people are giving focus more on the "self' rather than the society. This prevalent trend is reiterated by ideologies and philosophies that have been influential in the field of natural and social sciences. The concept of the "Self" is influenced by the individualist society prevalent in Western societies. Indeed, individualism through introspection is evident in the main themes discussed among discourses and literary works of this period. Sigmund Freud was an Austrian physician and founder of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a branch of psychology where unlearned biological instincts and experiences influence the way people think, feel, and behave. He developed 20th century philosophy and thought, influencing people with his works on the theme of individualism through introspection, mainly through the method of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis emerged as one the new methods where analysis of psychological illnesses (mental and emotional) is diagnosed through a study and investigation of the patient's childhood. Primarily, Freud looks at the early relationship of the patient with his/her parents; this is because Freud believed that an individual's early environment shapes and influences the personality of the individual as s/he grows up. Hence, psychoanalysis is an approach where there is emphasis on the unconscious part of the mind, conflict between biological instincts and society's demands, early family experiences. One of his discourses is The Interpretation of Dreams. In this work, Freud explores his 3-year analysis of the Self, conducted through psychoanalysis. Furthermore, he illustrates how the Self is discovered through dreams, where, as Freud, describes, "we suddenly emerge upon a piece of high ground, where the path divides and t...