Question

Much of what Freud said was not only odd but also wrong. But some of his ideas might have been right.  

Regardless, Freud is almost as popular today as he was at the time of his death, which says a great deal since he died more than 80 years ago. Many people treat him as someone possessing the absolute truth, almost someone with cult-like status.

Why do you think he is so popular today so long after his death? Was there enough truth or usefulness in Freud to keep his ideas around? Do you think he said much that was true?

As always, there are no right or wrong answers. The goal is for you to justify your answer

Answer 1

Sigmund Freud is most commonly known for this "Psychoanalytic Theory." He is the Father of Psychoanalysis.

Some of Freud's ideas were right. He said that a person usually denies, represses or projects his feelings on others. He gave the concept of 'transference' which is an important concept in therapy today. In his psychoanalytic theory, Freud says that our personality has three major parts which are the id, ego and superego. He also says that human behaviour occurs due to our conscious and unconscious needs and desires. He also gave us defence mechanisms through his theory. Some of these defence mechanisms are denial, displacement, projection, sublimation, reaction formation, etc. These are all common defenses which we human beings use at some point in our day-to-day lives.

All these are vital sayings and Freud's Psychoanalytic theory is widely regarded even today. Psychoanalysis is practised by psychotherapists in order to treat mental health problems. It is one school of thought which is widely followed.