A Primer of Freudian Psychology [antikvár]

PrefaceMy reason for writing this primer is to present as clearly, as briefly, and as systematically as I can the psychological theories advanced by Sigmund Freud.Freud's contributions in the areas of abnormal psychol-ogy, psychopathology, psychotherapy, and psychiatry have b^n summarized by a number of writers, but his work as a psychological theorist in the area of general psychology has not been presented in a systematic and comprehensive form as far as I have been able to discover.In my opinion, which is shared I believe by an increasing number of fellow psychologists, Freud's distinctive role in intellectual and scientific history is that of a psychological theorist. Freud himself regard^ psychoanalysis primarily as a system of psychology and not merely a branch of abnormal psychology or psychiatry. He wanted to be remembered and identified chiefly as a psychologist.My purpose then in summarizing the psychology of Sigmund Freud is to rescue him from the domain of mental disorders and to restore him to his legitimate place within the province of normal psychology. In stating my purpose in this way I do not intend any disparagement of Freud's considerable contributions to psychiatry. These contributions by themselves would assure him a secure place in history. However, I feel that if Freud is permitted to remain an exclusive possession of a branch of medicine, not only will his fundamental theories be relegated to a subordinate position, but also psychology will be the loser for having ignored one of its most creative minds.This primer is purely expository. I have not attempted to evaluate or criticize Freud's theories or to examine them in comparison with other theories, because I feel that one shoiild thoroughly understand something before his criticisms will be of much value. One is dismayed by the prevalence of criticism based upon incomplete understanding. Freud seems to have suffered more, in this respect, than any other major thinker of our times. His theories have been so widdy misrepresented and distorted that it is almost impossible for the unsuspecting reader to separate fact from falsification.