Psychoanalysis is a theory of personality and a method of treatment for psychological disorders that was developed by Austrian physician Sigmund Freud in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Psychoanalysis is based on the idea that unconscious thoughts, feelings, and experiences can have a powerful influence on a person's behavior and mental health.
According to Freud, the human psyche (mind) is divided into three parts: the conscious mind, the preconscious mind, and the unconscious mind. The conscious mind is what we are aware of at any given moment, while the preconscious mind is a layer of thoughts and memories that are not currently in our awareness but can be easily brought to the surface. The unconscious mind, on the other hand, is a deeper layer of thoughts, feelings, and memories that are not easily accessible to our conscious awareness, but which can still influence our behavior.
Freud believed that psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, and phobias were caused by conflicts between the different parts of the psyche, and that these conflicts could be resolved through a process called psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis involves helping the patient to bring these unconscious thoughts and feelings to the surface through techniques such as free association, dream analysis, and transference. Once these unconscious thoughts and feelings are brought to the surface and understood, the patient can learn to manage and cope with them more effectively.
In addition to its use in the treatment of psychological disorders, psychoanalysis has also had a significant influence on the field of psychology more generally. Many of Freud's ideas about the human psyche and the role of unconscious thoughts and feelings have been widely accepted and continue to be researched and studied today. However, psychoanalysis as a method of treatment has been the subject of much debate and criticism, and it is not as widely used as it once was.
In this very beautiful video, C.G. Jung talks about the great influence of the unconsciousness on a human being. Failure to understand the images of the unconscious place or a shrinking of ethical responsibility deprives a human being of his wholeness and imposes a painful fragmentariness on his life.
Maté traces the roots of our current health crisis to the trauma and stress that are endemic in our society. He argues that these factors contribute to a range of chronic illnesses, including addiction, depression, and heart disease. Maté offers a path to healing that emphasizes self-compassion, understanding, and taking responsibility for one's own health. He argues that we need to create a society that is more supportive and less stressful in order to promote genuine health and well-being.
Zen Buddhism and Psychoanalysis, Erich Fromm, D. T. Suzuki, and De Martino. Approximately one third of this book is a long discussion by Suzuki that gives a Buddhist analysis of the mind, its levels, and the methodology of extending awareness beyond the merely discursive level of thought. In producing this analysis, Suzuki gives a theoretical explanation for many of the swordsmanship teaching stories in Zen and Japanese Culture that otherwise would seem to involve mental telepathy, extrasensory perception, etc.
