An Interview with Sigmund Freud
Last week as I was rummaging through some old documents at my great-grandmother's house I found a box labeled "Interviews." In the box there were a number of interviews that my great-great grandfather had conducted of many prominent figures in the early 1900s. My great-great grandfather was an interviewer for a popular magazine back then. Seeing as this is a psychology blog I have taken the time to type out and post one of his interviews with the famous psychologist, Sigmund Freud.
September 22, 1929
Interviewer: Where and when were you born?
Freud: I was born in Frieberg, Moravia on May 6, 1856. In case you are not familiar with the geographical location of Moravia, it is a country that is bordered by Poland to the north, Slovakia to the east, and Austria to the south.
Interviewer: Where did you receive your education?
Freud: I recieved my education from many a place. When I was young my parents taught me at home. I then attended Spurling Gymnasium and graduated first in my class! From there I went on to study medicine at the University of Vienna.
Interviewer: What was it that got you interested in the field of psychology?
Freud: There were many things that interested me about the field of psychology. I was intrigued by Jean Charcot's work involving curing hysteria and other mental abnormalities with hypnotism. However, I was also influenced by one of my colleagues, Josef Breuer. He had conducted a study where he had a hysterical patient talk unreservedly about the earliest incidences of the symptoms. This research is what I based my idea that many neuroses had their origins in deeply traumatic experiences that had occurred in the patient’s past, but which were now forgotten or hidden from their consciousness. Another factor in my interest in the field of psychology is an emotional crisis that I experienced as a child when my father died and I had a series of dreams. These dreams, after analyzing them, led me to
my theory of the Oedipus complex.
Interviewer: Astounding! Now I have to ask the question that I'm sure most people already know the answer to, what contributions have you made to the field of psychology?
Freud: I have certainly made many contributions to the field of psychology, starting with my theory on psychoanalysis. The idea behind psychoanalysis is making the unconscious workings of a person's mind conscious. It is the best way to help people overcome or deal with their mental disorders. I also came up with a theory on personality. It consists of the psycho sexual stages that a person goes through in childhood. If the stage is not successfully completed then the person will have mental problems later on in life. For example if a person does not successfully complete the phallic stage, which is from ages 3-6, then they may have problems with masturbation in their adulthood. Another one of my many contributions is the structure of the mind. It is made up of the superego, the id, and the ego. The ego helps to keep the superego and the id in order and maintains balance between the two. I have also conducted many other studies and published many books in the field of psychology. One of the books I published back in 1900 was The Interpretation of Dreams which helps to do exactly what the title says, interpret dreams.
Interviewer: Wow! Those are certainly some monumental theories and ideas! I have just a few questions more Mr. Freud. While you were building upon these theories did you conduct any experiments?
Freud: Of course! I did many experiments when I was studying the mind, however they were more studies of patients than actual experiments. My early studies were conducted with Joseph Breuer. We helped to cure people who were suffering from hysteria and went onto to publish a study of the experiment together. I conducted numerous other studies of the mind on my own as well.
Interviewer: From these studies what did you conclude?
Freud: I concluded that the psychoanalytic method was a success and that illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces. I also came to the conclusion that the interpretation of dreams is the royal road to knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind. I learned that human behavior stems from the unconscious mind and that we, as humans, are primarily sexually driven.
Interviewer: So what psychological views did you develop? Also, could you please explain to me how it applies to human behavior?
Freud: I developed the psychoanalytical view. It really shows a focus on the unconscious. The mind is made up of 3 distinct parts; the ego, the id, and the superego. It applies to human behavior because we act based on our unconscious emotions and what the ego allows. The id and the superego offer up two opposite positions on situations and the ego makes a compromise with them both.
Interviewer: How do people feel about your work?
Freud: People criticize my work and call it lewd and disgusting. I refute those criticisms. We are all driven by one of the most basic instincts, our sex drive. Some people can not accept that. They say that I am obsessed with sex, however it is not as much as an obsession as a fascination.
Interviewer: Interesting, do you feel as though your work will uphold the test of time? In 100 years do you think that people will still be using your ideas and theories to study the mind?
Freud: Yes, I do feel as though my work will have a lasting-impact. In 100 years I think that people will have expanded upon my original ideas and that they will be the basis of many psychological studies. People may not remember my name, but they will be using my works to help others and to build more effective ways to help. I'm certain that there will be many more things about the mind that will be discovered over time.
Interviewer: Okay, this is my last question Mr. Freud. Of all of your works what are you most proud of accomplishing?
Freud: I personally think that my greatest accomplishment would have to be my study of the unconscious mind and how the psycho sexual stages, if not met sufficiently, can lead to a vast number of mental illnesses. It will surely go on to help many people.
Interviewer: I sure hope so! Thank you so much for your time Mr. Freud! It was truly a pleasure to meet you and have this time to find out more about you.
September 22, 1929
Interviewer: Where and when were you born?
Freud: I was born in Frieberg, Moravia on May 6, 1856. In case you are not familiar with the geographical location of Moravia, it is a country that is bordered by Poland to the north, Slovakia to the east, and Austria to the south.
Interviewer: Where did you receive your education?
Freud: I recieved my education from many a place. When I was young my parents taught me at home. I then attended Spurling Gymnasium and graduated first in my class! From there I went on to study medicine at the University of Vienna.
Interviewer: What was it that got you interested in the field of psychology?
Freud: There were many things that interested me about the field of psychology. I was intrigued by Jean Charcot's work involving curing hysteria and other mental abnormalities with hypnotism. However, I was also influenced by one of my colleagues, Josef Breuer. He had conducted a study where he had a hysterical patient talk unreservedly about the earliest incidences of the symptoms. This research is what I based my idea that many neuroses had their origins in deeply traumatic experiences that had occurred in the patient’s past, but which were now forgotten or hidden from their consciousness. Another factor in my interest in the field of psychology is an emotional crisis that I experienced as a child when my father died and I had a series of dreams. These dreams, after analyzing them, led me to
my theory of the Oedipus complex.
Interviewer: Astounding! Now I have to ask the question that I'm sure most people already know the answer to, what contributions have you made to the field of psychology?
Freud: I have certainly made many contributions to the field of psychology, starting with my theory on psychoanalysis. The idea behind psychoanalysis is making the unconscious workings of a person's mind conscious. It is the best way to help people overcome or deal with their mental disorders. I also came up with a theory on personality. It consists of the psycho sexual stages that a person goes through in childhood. If the stage is not successfully completed then the person will have mental problems later on in life. For example if a person does not successfully complete the phallic stage, which is from ages 3-6, then they may have problems with masturbation in their adulthood. Another one of my many contributions is the structure of the mind. It is made up of the superego, the id, and the ego. The ego helps to keep the superego and the id in order and maintains balance between the two. I have also conducted many other studies and published many books in the field of psychology. One of the books I published back in 1900 was The Interpretation of Dreams which helps to do exactly what the title says, interpret dreams.
Interviewer: Wow! Those are certainly some monumental theories and ideas! I have just a few questions more Mr. Freud. While you were building upon these theories did you conduct any experiments?
Freud: Of course! I did many experiments when I was studying the mind, however they were more studies of patients than actual experiments. My early studies were conducted with Joseph Breuer. We helped to cure people who were suffering from hysteria and went onto to publish a study of the experiment together. I conducted numerous other studies of the mind on my own as well.
Interviewer: From these studies what did you conclude?
Freud: I concluded that the psychoanalytic method was a success and that illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces. I also came to the conclusion that the interpretation of dreams is the royal road to knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind. I learned that human behavior stems from the unconscious mind and that we, as humans, are primarily sexually driven.
Interviewer: So what psychological views did you develop? Also, could you please explain to me how it applies to human behavior?
Freud: I developed the psychoanalytical view. It really shows a focus on the unconscious. The mind is made up of 3 distinct parts; the ego, the id, and the superego. It applies to human behavior because we act based on our unconscious emotions and what the ego allows. The id and the superego offer up two opposite positions on situations and the ego makes a compromise with them both.
Interviewer: How do people feel about your work?
Freud: People criticize my work and call it lewd and disgusting. I refute those criticisms. We are all driven by one of the most basic instincts, our sex drive. Some people can not accept that. They say that I am obsessed with sex, however it is not as much as an obsession as a fascination.
Interviewer: Interesting, do you feel as though your work will uphold the test of time? In 100 years do you think that people will still be using your ideas and theories to study the mind?
Freud: Yes, I do feel as though my work will have a lasting-impact. In 100 years I think that people will have expanded upon my original ideas and that they will be the basis of many psychological studies. People may not remember my name, but they will be using my works to help others and to build more effective ways to help. I'm certain that there will be many more things about the mind that will be discovered over time.
Interviewer: Okay, this is my last question Mr. Freud. Of all of your works what are you most proud of accomplishing?
Freud: I personally think that my greatest accomplishment would have to be my study of the unconscious mind and how the psycho sexual stages, if not met sufficiently, can lead to a vast number of mental illnesses. It will surely go on to help many people.
Interviewer: I sure hope so! Thank you so much for your time Mr. Freud! It was truly a pleasure to meet you and have this time to find out more about you.