Freud's Theory of the 'Unconscious'

Paper Summary:

This paper examines and substantiates Freud's theory of the 'unconscious' and with reference to his own work, offers a justification for ones belief in its existence. It also draws attention to the infamous case of the Rat Man, a discussion of which inevitably highlights a number of key Freudian concepts fundamental to the development of psychoanalysis.

From the Paper:

"According to Freud, the "unconscious" consists of a great many mental states, beliefs and desires of which the individual is unaware, and such beliefs or desires are deeply submerged within the individuals mind, indeed it can be said that they are actively 'repressed'. These unconscious thoughts often reveal themselves in dreams, or can produce hysterical symptoms within the individual, yet such revelations arrive often in metaphors or symbols, the translation of which is a necessary factor in the comprehension of such beliefs or desires. It should also be understood that the 'unconscious' is 'autonomous to the relative activity of the brain' , and this concept helps one to understand the notion of 'conflict' within the individual."

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