Biographical Timeline
1856: Sigmund Freud is born on May 6th in Freiberg, Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic), to Jewish parents.1873: Freud enters the University of Vienna to study medicine.
1881: Freud receives his medical degree from the University of Vienna.
1884: Freud begins his work at Vienna General Hospital, specializing in neurology.
1885: Freud travels to Paris to study under Jean-Martin Charcot, a renowned neurologist known for his work on hysteria.
1886: Freud establishes a private practice in Vienna and begins treating patients with psychological disorders.
1895: Freud publishes his groundbreaking work, "Studies on Hysteria," co-authored with Josef Breuer.
1900: Freud's book, "The Interpretation of Dreams," is published, introducing his theory of the unconscious and the interpretation of dreams as a key to understanding the unconscious mind.
1901: Freud establishes the Psychological Wednesday Society, which later becomes the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society.
1905: Freud publishes "Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality," which explores the role of sexuality in human development and its impact on neurosis.
1909: Freud and Carl Jung meet for the first time and begin a close professional relationship that eventually fractures.
1913: Freud publishes "Totem and Taboo," in which he explores the origins of civilization, religion, and the psychological significance of taboos.
1919: Freud founds the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA), a worldwide organization to promote psychoanalysis.
1923: Freud is diagnosed with cancer of the jaw, leading to a series of surgeries and ongoing health issues.
1930: Freud's book, "Civilization and Its Discontents," is published, examining the conflicts between individual desires and societal norms.
1938: With the rise of the Nazi regime in Austria, Freud and his family flee to London, England, to escape persecution.
1939: Sigmund Freud dies on September 23rd in London, at the age of 83.
Sigmund Freud's legacy as the founder of psychoanalysis continues to shape the field of psychology and influence our understanding of the human mind and behavior.
Biographical Sketch
Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), born in Vienna, Austria, was the eldest of eight children in a family with an authoritarian father. Understanding Freud's family background is crucial in comprehending the evolution of his theory. Despite financial limitations and living in a cramped apartment, his parents made diligent efforts to nurture his evident intellectual capabilities. Freud had a wide range of interests but faced career restrictions due to his Jewish heritage. Eventually, he settled on pursuing medicine.Shortly after earning his medical degree from the University of Vienna at the age of 26, Freud secured a prestigious position as a lecturer there. He dedicated a significant portion of his life to developing and expanding his theory of psychoanalysis. Interestingly, the most creatively fertile phase of his life coincided with a period marked by severe emotional struggles. In his early 40s, Freud experienced numerous psychosomatic disorders, intense fears of death, and various phobias, all while grappling with the challenging task of self-analysis. Through exploring the meaning of his own dreams, he gained profound insights into the dynamics of personality development. He embarked on analyzing his childhood memories, unearthing the intense hostility he harbored towards his father. He also recollected his childhood sexual feelings for his attractive, loving, and protective mother. Drawing from these experiences, Freud formulated his theory as he observed his patients working through their own issues in analysis.
Freud displayed little tolerance for colleagues who deviated from his psychoanalytic doctrines. He sought to maintain control over the movement by expelling those who dared to dissent. Prominent figures like Carl Jung and Alfred Adler, who initially worked closely with Freud, eventually established their own therapeutic schools after repeated theoretical and clinical disagreements.
Freud's life was characterized by remarkable creativity and productivity, often spending up to 18 hours a day on his work. His collected works fill 24 volumes, a testament to his prolific output. However, his productivity waned in the later years of his life when he battled jaw cancer. Over the span of two decades, Freud underwent 33 surgeries and endured almost constant pain. He passed away in London in 1939.
As the originator of psychoanalysis, Freud left an indelible mark as an intellectual giant. He pioneered innovative techniques for understanding human behavior and developed the most comprehensive theory of personality and psychotherapy to date. His contributions shaped the field of psychology and continue to influence our understanding of the human mind.