Freud, Sigmund

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a method for treating mental illness and understanding human behavior. He proposed theories about the unconscious mind, suggesting that our thoughts, feelings, and desires often stem from hidden mental processes. Key concepts include the id (instincts), ego (reality), and superego (morality), which interact to shape personality. Freud also emphasized the importance of childhood experiences in adult behavior and introduced techniques like dream analysis and free association to access the unconscious. His work significantly influenced psychology, literature, and art, despite being controversial and frequently debated.