Author
Sigmund Freud
1856-1939
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
Subjects
Books by Sigmund Freud
The Interpretation of Dreams
"The Interpretation of Dreams" by Sigmund Freud is a book published in 1899 that introduces his groundbreaking theory of the unconscious through dream analysis. Freud argues that dreams are forms of wish fulfillment, shaped by unconscious forces and mental censorship. He distinguishes between a dream's manifest content—what we remember—and its latent content—the hidden meaning beneath. Through processes of condensation, displacement, and symbolism, dreams become puzzles that, when interpreted, reveal the "royal road" to understanding the unconscious mind.
A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis
"A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" by Sigmund Freud is a set of lectures given in 1915-1917. In twenty-eight accessible talks, Freud presents his revolutionary ideas about the unconscious mind, dreams, and neuroses to a lay audience. Beginning with everyday slips of the tongue, progressing through dream analysis, and culminating in theories of mental illness, he grounds his radical psychological theories in common experience. The lectures became his most popular and widely translated work, offering both newcomers and advanced readers insight into the foundations of psychoanalytic thought.
Totem and taboo : $b Resemblances between the psychic lives of savages and neurotics
"Totem and Taboo: Resemblances between the psychic lives of savages and..." by Sigmund Freud is a collection of four essays published in 1913. Freud applies psychoanalytic concepts to anthropology, archaeology, and religion, drawing controversial parallels between primitive societies and neurotic patients. Through examining incest taboos, totemism, animism, and the origins of social organization, he explores ambivalence, projection, and the "omnipotence of thoughts." The work proposes a provocative theory about the primal origins of human society and religious guilt, though its conclusions remain hotly debated among anthropologists.
Three Contributions to the Theory of Sex
"Three Contributions to the Theory of Sex" by Sigmund Freud is a groundbreaking work published in 1905 that presents his revolutionary theory of human sexuality. Freud examines sexual development across three essays, exploring what he terms sexual aberrations, childhood sexuality, and the transformations of puberty. He argues that sexual urges exist from childhood and that perverse tendencies are universal rather than limited to the abnormal. The work connects sexuality to unconscious forces and neuroses, introducing concepts that would become central to psychoanalytic theory and fundamentally challenge Victorian assumptions about human nature.
Introductory lectures on psycho-analysis : $b a course of twenty-eight lectures delivered at the University of Vienna
"Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis: a course of twenty-eight lectures…" by Sigmund Freud is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book serves as a foundational introduction to the theory and practice of psycho-analysis, offering both beginners and more advanced readers an organized pathway into Freud's psychological concepts. Its main focus is to provide a systematic examination of the key elements of psycho-analysis, specifically addressing the psychopathology of everyday life, dreams, and neuroses. The opening of "Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis" begins with a preface outlining the lack of accessible introductory material on psycho-analysis and lauding Freud’s effort to fill this gap. The initial lectures are presented as both a warning and an invitation: Freud cautions his audience about the challenges, controversies, and social resistance they may face in engaging with psycho-analysis. He highlights the difficulties of learning psycho-analysis, given its subjective and private nature, and emphasizes that the field often confronts widespread intellectual and moral prejudices—especially regarding the unconscious mind and the role of sexuality in mental life. Freud then introduces his method by analyzing common errors like slips of the tongue, forgetting names, and misplacing objects, arguing that these seemingly trivial everyday mistakes often have meaning and arise from underlying psychological mechanisms. Through numerous examples, Freud systematically demonstrates that such errors are not random, but instead reflect hidden intentions and mental processes, setting the groundwork for psycho-analytic investigation.
Die Traumdeutung
"Die Traumdeutung" by Sigmund Freud is a book published in 1899. In this groundbreaking work, the founder of psychoanalysis introduces his theory of the unconscious through dream interpretation. Freud argues that dreams are forms of wish fulfillment, shaped by unconscious forces and mental censorship. He distinguishes between a dream's manifest content—what we remember—and its latent content—the hidden meaning beneath. Through this analysis, Freud proclaimed dreams as "the royal road" to understanding the unconscious mind.
Psychopathology of Everyday Life
"Psychopathology of Everyday Life" by Sigmund Freud is a work published in 1901. It explores how seemingly trivial mental lapses—forgotten names, slips of the tongue, random errors—reveal hidden workings of the unconscious mind. Freud argues these everyday mistakes aren't accidents but meaningful symptoms of unconscious thoughts and impulses. Through numerous examples, he suggests the boundary between normal and neurotic behavior is surprisingly fluid, making a case that we are all, in some measure, influenced by forces beyond our conscious awareness.
The history of the psychoanalytic movement
"The history of the psychoanalytic movement" by Sigmund Freud is a historical account written in the early 20th century. It charts the birth and growth of psychoanalysis, outlines its core ideas and methods, and narrates its spread, institutionalization, and conflicts—especially Freud’s defenses of the theory against critics and former allies. The opening of the work presents Freud’s own role in creating psychoanalysis, acknowledging Breuer’s “cathartic method” while marking his departures—free association, the centrality of resistance and transference, and the theory of repression. He recounts how he moved from hypnosis to analysis, from a discarded “seduction theory” to infantile sexuality and psychic reality, and how dream interpretation became his anchor during years of isolation. The narrative then widens to the formation of the early Vienna circle, the crucial alliance with the Zürich clinic (Bleuler, Jung), and the international spread to America with supportive figures like Putnam, Brill, and Jones. Freud sketches the founding of journals and societies and the extension of analytic thinking to myth, literature, and religion. He explains his avoidance of polemics, yet describes organizing the International Psychoanalytic Association and the early congresses. This opening section culminates in the first major schism, detailing Adler’s break and “Individual Psychology,” which Freud criticizes for rejecting repression and sexual motivation, and it foreshadows a second rupture to come.
Group Psychology and The Analysis of The Ego
"Group Psychology and The Analysis of The Ego" by Sigmund Freud is a book published in 1921. Drawing on sociologist Gustave Le Bon's work, Freud explores the psychological mechanisms within mass movements. He examines how individuals in crowds lose conscious personality, act on impulses, and become controlled by the unconscious. Freud argues that masses are held together by libidinal bonds and identification with leaders. The work distinguishes between temporary fads and enduring organized groups, revealing how both operate through similar mental processes.
Das Unheimliche
"Das Unheimliche" by Sigmund Freud is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The work explores the concept of the "uncanny," investigating feelings of unease and fear that arise from the familiar becoming strange. Freud delves into the psychological roots of these feelings, drawing connections to repressed memories and childhood fears. At the start of the text, Freud discusses the rarity of aesthetic inquiries for psychoanalysts, emphasizing that traditional aesthetics often neglect the concept of the uncanny. He references E. Jentsch's work on the psychological aspects of the uncanny, highlighting its association with intellectual uncertainty and the discomfort caused by recognizing the familiar in an unfamiliar context. Freud proposes that the uncanny arises when something once familiar becomes unsettling due to repressed memories or fears, which he plans to illustrate through various examples, eventually leading to a deeper understanding of this complex emotional response.
Dream Psychology: Psychoanalysis for Beginners
"Dream Psychology: Psychoanalysis for Beginners" by Sigmund Freud is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. This work seeks to introduce readers to the foundations of Freudian psychoanalysis, focusing particularly on the interpretation of dreams and their significance in understanding the human psyche. Freud explores how dreams serve as a means of wish fulfillment and provide insights into our unconscious desires and conflicts. At the start of the book, the introduction discusses the initial skepticism surrounding Freud's theories on dreams and highlights the importance of dream interpretation in psychotherapy. Freud emphasizes that dreams are not mere nonsensical phenomena or random thoughts, but rather hold deep meaning related to the dreamer's waking life. He begins to outline his method for analyzing dreams, indicating that understanding the latent content behind the manifest content of dreams can reveal important truths about individual desires and repressed thoughts. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the mechanisms behind dreaming and the clinical implications of dream analysis in the chapters to follow.
Totem und Tabu Einige Übereinstimmungen im Seelenleben der Wilden und der Neurotiker
"Totem und Tabu" by Sigmund Freud is a work published in 1913. Through four essays, Freud applies psychoanalytic methods to questions of anthropology, examining primitive societies through the lens of individual psychological development. He explores why certain cultures have intense incest taboos, what underlies the concept of taboo itself, how magical thinking emerges, and what connects totemism to social structures. Freud draws controversial parallels between "primitive" peoples and neurotics, proposing a provocative theory about the violent origins of human civilization.
Delusion and Dream : an Interpretation in the Light of Psychoanalysis of Gradiva
"Delusion and Dream: an Interpretation in the Light of Psychoanalysis of…" by Sigmund Freud is an essay written in 1907 that applies psychoanalysis to Wilhelm Jensen's novel Gradiva. Freud examines how a young archaeologist, Norbert Hanold, unconsciously transforms his repressed childhood love into an obsession with a woman depicted in an ancient Roman bas-relief. Through delusion and dreams set in Pompeii, Hanold eventually confronts reality when his forgotten sweetheart cleverly guides him back to sanity, demonstrating what Freud called "cure by love."
Beyond the pleasure principle
"Beyond the Pleasure Principle" by Sigmund Freud is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book explores the underlying mechanisms of the human psyche, questioning and expanding upon established psychoanalytic concepts, particularly the pleasure principle. Freud introduces provocative ideas regarding human drives, trauma, and the existence of instincts beyond the mere pursuit of pleasure, which became foundational for later psychoanalytic theory. This work is central for anyone interested in the development of concepts such as the death drive and the unconscious motivations behind repetitive and often self-destructive behavior. The opening of "Beyond the Pleasure Principle" presents Freud's initial discussion of the pleasure principle as the guiding force of mental life, proposing that people instinctively seek to avoid pain and pursue pleasure. Freud references previous philosophical and psychological thought, incorporating empirical insights from psychoanalysis and carefully distinguishing between concepts like pleasure, pain, and the "constancy principle." He then questions the supremacy of the pleasure principle by analyzing cases where it seems to be overruled, such as traumatic neuroses and the compulsion to repeat distressing experiences. Freud further illustrates his points through observations of children's play, dream patterns following trauma, and the phenomenon of repetition in neurotic behavior, setting the stage for his hypothesis that a more fundamental instinct—possibly even one orientated toward death—may exist beneath and beyond the pursuit of pleasure.
Drei Abhandlungen zur Sexualtheorie
"Drei Abhandlungen zur Sexualtheorie" by Sigmund Freud is a work published in 1905. This foundational psychoanalytic text advances Freud's controversial theory that sexuality begins in childhood and develops through distinct stages. The work examines three main areas: sexual perversions and deviations from norms, infantile sexuality and childhood sexual urges, and the transformations occurring during puberty. Freud connects these concepts to his theories of the unconscious and neuroses, arguing that sexual instinct is universal and that repression drives psychological disorders.
Jenseits des Lustprinzips
"Jenseits des Lustprinzips" by Sigmund Freud is a treatise published in 1920. Freud challenges his earlier theories by examining a puzzling phenomenon: why do people compulsively repeat painful experiences? Through analyzing traumatic dreams and childhood play, he introduces revolutionary concepts that reshape psychoanalytic theory. He proposes that the unconscious mind operates deeper than previously thought, that drives pursue more than pleasure, and that two fundamental forces—life drives and death drives—battle within every living organism.
Leonardo da Vinci: A Psychosexual Study of an Infantile Reminiscence
"Leonardo da Vinci: A Psychosexual Study of an Infantile Reminiscence" by Sigmund Freud is a psychoanalytic essay published in 1910. Freud examines Leonardo da Vinci's life and art through the lens of psychoanalysis, focusing on a childhood memory involving a bird attacking the infant Leonardo in his crib. The study explores how this early fantasy shaped Leonardo's psychology and artistic work, particularly his paintings of the Virgin Mary with Saint Anne, connecting them to Leonardo's upbringing by two mother figures after his illegitimate birth.
Massenpsychologie und Ich-Analyse
"Massenpsychologie und Ich-Analyse" by Sigmund Freud is an essay written in 1921. Freud explores the psychological mechanisms at work within mass movements, examining how individuals in crowds experience feelings of unlimited power that allow them to express drives they would normally suppress. Drawing on Gustave Le Bon's work, he distinguishes between short-lived revolutionary masses and permanent organized groups like churches or militaries, arguing that libidinal bonds hold masses together through identification with other members and idealization of leaders.
On dreams
"On Dreams" by Sigmund Freud is an abridged work published in 1901. Created as a shorter, more accessible version of his landmark "The Interpretation of Dreams," this text distills Freud's revolutionary theory that dreams represent disguised wish-fulfillment. Freud explores how the unconscious mind transforms hidden desires through condensation, displacement, and symbolism, creating the puzzling narratives we experience during sleep. He argues that beneath every dream's surface lies a deeper meaning, accessible through careful interpretation—offering readers a gateway to understanding the mind's secret workings.
The future of an illusion
The future of an illusion by Sigmund Freud is a psychoanalytic treatise written in the early 20th century. It examines religion as a collective illusion born from human wishes and childhood helplessness, and considers how civilization might sustain social order without sacred authority. Blending psychology, cultural critique, and philosophy, it argues for replacing religious foundations with rational, scientific understanding. The opening of the treatise defines culture as both the human conquest of nature and the regulation of social relations, stressing that it rests on labor, coercion, and instinctual renunciation that provoke resistance. It then turns to the “psychical” supports of culture—prohibitions and privations, their partial internalization as the super-ego, class grievances, the narcotic pride of cultural ideals, and the compensations of art—culminating in religion as the most powerful device. Religion is presented as a projection of infantile helplessness and father-longing that humanizes nature, promises justice and an afterlife, and asserts authority without proof; these doctrines are labeled “illusions” grounded in wish-fulfilment rather than evidence. Anticipating objections that society would collapse without faith, the text counters that laws should be justified by social necessity, recasts religion as a universal obsessional neurosis with totemic roots, and urges “education to reality” and gradual reliance on reason and science, even while admitting the transition will be slow and contested.
Eine Schwierigkeit der Psychoanalyse
"Eine Schwierigkeit der Psychoanalyse" by Sigmund Freud is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The work delves into the challenges faced by psychoanalysis in gaining acceptance and understanding, particularly from those who might struggle to resonate with its theories. It significantly highlights the role of libido in neurotic conditions and the inherent conflicts between different psychic drives. In this text, Freud discusses the concept of libido and its centrality in psychoanalytic theory, arguing that many neuroses stem from conflicts between sexual drives and self-preservation drives. He outlines three major humiliations to human narcissism that have arisen from scientific research: the displacement of humans from the center of the universe, the biological connection to animals, and the realization of the unconscious processes that govern human behavior. Freud posits that these revelations contribute to people's resistance to psychoanalysis, as they challenge their perceptions of control over their own psyche. He emphasizes the importance of understanding these underlying dynamics for effective therapeutic interventions, suggesting that true awareness of one's internal conflicts is crucial for achieving psychological health.
Reflections on War and Death
"Reflections on War and Death" by Sigmund Freud is a set of twin essays written in 1915, six months after World War I began. Freud explores the profound disillusionment that accompanied the war's outbreak, examining how conflict exposed the fragility of European civilization and revealed humanity's primitive impulses beneath its civilized veneer. He argues that peacetime society had cultivated "cultural hypocrites" and dangerously shielded people from confronting death's inevitability, leaving them unprepared for the war's industrial-scale carnage.
Wit and its relation to the unconscious
"Wit and its Relation to the Unconscious" by Sigmund Freud is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book delves into the psychological mechanisms and significance of wit, situating it within the broader context of Freud's psychoanalytic theory. Its central focus is to examine how wit operates in the mind, its techniques, and its relation to deeper unconscious processes—placing wit alongside dreams and slips of the tongue as meaningful psychic productions rather than trivial amusements. The opening of this work begins with a translator's preface, situating the book among Freud's other foundational texts and highlighting its importance in the development of psychoanalysis. Freud introduces the topic by surveying historical and philosophical approaches to wit, noting how prior thinkers have often treated it as a subset of the comic or failed to analyze it systematically. He critiques previous definitions, drawing attention to recurring themes such as brevity, playfulness, the unearthing of hidden meaning, and the combination of disparate ideas. Freud then moves into analyzing the technical mechanisms of wit by closely examining linguistic examples, especially those involving wordplay, condensation, and ambiguity. Throughout, he compares the structure of witty expressions to that of dreams—particularly noting their shared techniques of condensation and substitutive formation—while also distinguishing wit through its unique social and aesthetic aspects.
Zur Psychopathologie des Alltagslebens Über Vergessen, Versprechen, Vergreifen, Aberglaube und Irrtum
"Zur Psychopathologie des Alltagslebens" by Sigmund Freud is a work published in 1901. The founder of psychoanalysis examines the hidden meanings behind everyday mistakes, slips of the tongue, and forgotten names. Freud argues these seemingly random errors reveal unconscious thoughts and impulses, blurring the line between normal and abnormal psychology. Through personal examples and case studies, he demonstrates how analyzing these minor mental lapses can serve as tools for understanding the human psyche and its deeper pathologies.