At the end of this video, the audience should be able to:

- Know Sigmund Freud;

- Describe psychoanalysis and its importance in the field of Psychology then and today;
- Understand Freud’s perspective and theory on religion and how it contributed to his
works in psychoanalysis;
- And to know the effects and impact of his works on psychoanalysis to the church and
society in general

I. INTRODUCTION

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who is known as the founding father of
psychoanalysis. Regardless of Sigmund Freud’s theories, there is no question that he had an
enormous impact on the field of psychology. He was the first psychoanalyst and a pioneer in
the recognition of the importance of unconscious mental activity; and his works greatly
influenced 20th century studies related to philosophy, science and literature. His famous
psychoanalytical system dominated the field of psychotherapy in the early 20th century and
continues to do so even today. Sigmund Freud also took a keen interest in religion. As an adult,
Freud considered himself an atheist, but his Jewish background and upbringing played an
important role in the development of his ideas. He even wrote several books focused on the
topic of religion. While fascinated by religion and spirituality, Freud was also at times quite
critical. He critiqued religion for being unwelcoming, harsh, and unloving toward those who are
not members of a specific religious group.

SIGMUND FREUD
- Austrian Neurologist: Father of psychoanalysis
- First psychoanalyst & a pioneer in recognizing the importance of unconscious mental
activity
- 20th century: his works influenced psychology, science, and literature
- Took a keen interest in religion, despite being an atheist
- Published books that are focused on religion
- Critiqued religion for being unwelcoming, harsh, and unloving toward the nonmembers
of religious groups

But first, let’s discuss psychoanalysis.

II. PSYCHOANALYSIS

In 1925, Psychoanalysis was globally recognized as a general theory of individual human

behavior and experience which aims to identify, describe, and understand the unconscious of
an individual. The unconscious of a person is known to affect his or her behavior, personality,
and over all mental well being. The basis of this theory revolves around the 3 psychical factors
of the human mind: id, ego, and superego. The id is responsible for the unconscious and
contains everything that is inherited and the instincts. The ego has the quality of being
conscious and is responsible for controlling the demands of the id and of the instincts,
becoming aware of stimuli, and serving as a link between the id and the external world.
Additionally, the ego responds to stimulation, regulates activity, and strives to achieve pleasure
and avoid displeasure. Lastly, the superego, whose demands are managed by the id, is
responsible for the limitation of satisfactions and represents the influence of others, such as
parents, teachers, and role models, as well as the impact of racial, societal, and cultural
traditions.

PSYCHOANALYSIS (1925)

- general theory of individual human behavior and experience

- purpose: identify, describe, and understand the unconscious of an individual
- focuses on the 3 psychical factors of the human mind: id, ego, and superego.

PSYCHICAL FACTORS

- ID: responsible for the unconscious and contains everything that is inherited and the
instincts
- EGO: has the quality of being conscious and is responsible for controlling the demands
of the id; is the between the id and the external world; it responds to stimulation,
regulates activity, and strives to achieve pleasure and avoid displeasure
- SUPEREGO: managed by the id and is responsible for the limitation of satisfactions and
represents the influence of others, such as parents, teachers, and role models, as well as
the impact of racial, societal, and cultural traditions

In line with understanding the human mind, psychoanalysis aims to cure neurosis by returning
the damaged ego to its normal state. The psychoanalytic therapy is done through a sequence of
steps starting with the gathering of work material from patients' free associations, results of
transference, dream interpretation, and the patients' slips and parapraxes. Second, analysts
begin to form hypotheses about the patient’s experience in the past and what is currently
happening to them in their daily life. It is important that analysts relay the conclusions at which
they arrive based on their observations only after the patients have reached the same
conclusions on their own accord, otherwise, the analysis must continue. However, despite the
promising process, the downside to this process is that during analysis, a process that often
takes many years, patients tell analysts both what they feel is important and what they
consider to be unimportant. An aspect of analysis that has both positive and negative
repercussions is transference, which occurs when patients view their analysts as parents, role
models, or other figures from their past. This causes the patients’ to be distracted by aiming to
please their analysts, which hinders in the healing process of the patient.

PSYCHOANALYSIS

- aims to cure neurosis by returning the damaged ego to its normal state
- STEPS:
o gathering of work material from patients' free associations, results of
transference, dream interpretation, and the patients' slips and parapraxes;
o analysts begin to form hypotheses about the patient’s experience in the past and
what is currently happening to them in their daily life;
o analysts relay the conclusions at which they arrive based on their observations
only after the patients have reached the same conclusions on their own accord
- Transference: occurs when patients view their analysts as parents, role models, or other
figures from their past. This causes the patients’ to be distracted by aiming to please
their analysts, which hinders in the healing process of the patient.

This method paved the way in further understanding the human mind, which is why it is
considered revolutionary. It is a substantial theory of personality because it is directly
responsible for the development of additional psychological theories and hypotheses that may
have been overlooked. Additionally, the theories of Sigmund Freud also had a revolutionary
effect on the beliefs and morals of modern society as well as on the arts. Freud’s psychoanalysis
is revolutionary in a sense that it was able to put forward new perspective, approach, and
methods in helping the humanity improve their personality, mental health, and their overall
well being, which is still essential in our time, still considered as a credible and valid method in
curing mental illnesses.

HOW IS IT REVOLUTIONARY?
- It paved the way in further understanding the human mind, which is why it is considered
revolutionary
- substantial theory of personality because it is directly responsible for the development
of additional psychological theories and hypotheses
- had an effect on the beliefs and morals of modern society as well as on the arts
- considered as credible and valid method in curing mental illnesses

III. THEORY ON RELIGION

Now we discuss the former material that was the target of psychoanalysis, which is people’s
faith in their God – the religion. According to Freud, religion was an attempt to control the
Oedipal complex, giving structure to social groups, a wish fulfillment, and a childish illusion.
Oedipus complex, in psychoanalytic theory, is the desire for sexual involvement with the parent
of the opposite sex and a concomitant sense of rivalry with the parent of the same sex; a crucial
stage in the normal developmental process. How Freud felt about religion was written in some
of his writings, he stated that religion was a form of psychological disorder. Freud's most
famous quote about this topic tells that "religion is an illusion and it derives its strength from
that fact that it falls in with our instinctual desires". He also wrote that "religion is comparable
to a childhood neurosis". He realized that the instincts and thoughts that are continuously
repressed resurface in the form of safety valves. A concrete example is how Christians, in
particular, are overly dependent on their God, that even at times of sufferings they only rely on
His mercy and grace instead of actually solving their troubles or miseries. Another example is
when Christian elders advise the young ones to pray to their God, so he could lift their worries
and anxieties, when they open up to them. This kind of mindset is what psychoanalysis is trying
to eliminate, in order to maximize the three forces that is the foundation of the human mind.

THEORY ON RELIGION

- material that was the target of psychoanalysis - the religion

- He said that religion was an attempt to control the Oedipal complex, giving structure to
social groups, a wish fulfillment, and a childish illusion
o Oedipus complex, in psychoanalytic theory, is the desire for sexual involvement
with the parent of the opposite sex and a concomitant sense of rivalry with the
parent of the same sex; a crucial stage in the normal developmental process.
- "religion is an illusion and it derives its strength from that fact that it falls in with our
instinctual desires"
- "religion is comparable to a childhood neurosis"
- realized that the instincts and thoughts that are continuously repressed resurface in the
form of safety valves

I. SIGNIFICANCE OF FREUDIAN REVOLUTION

It is believed that Freud’s theory influenced religion and enabled Christianity to view a deeper
understanding of one’s psychology as well as the relationships built within communities. In his
critique and theory and religion, the church community is given a chance to view with scientific
evidence the internal issues which is faced by their community – such as the weakening of faith
and eventual rejection of their former beliefs. Additionally, Freud’s theories enabled the society
to view differently, however not indifferently, the factors and elements that make up and affect
the psychology of the human person; thus, contributing to the improvement and development
of human relationship with himself and with the community.
SIGNIFICANCE OF FREUDIAN REVOLUTION

- Freud’s theory influenced religion and enabled Christianity to view a deeper

understanding of one’s psychology as well as the relationships built within communities,
theory influenced religion and enabled Christianity to view a deeper understanding of
one’s psychology as well as the relationships built within communities.