Freud on Sex

Synonyms

Freud and human sexuality; Freud and gender; Freud and psychosexual development

Definition

Freud’s emphasis on sexuality in his explanations of human psychology.

Introduction

In the popular imagination, even among those who are otherwise almost entirely unfamiliar with his work, most people who have heard of Freud at all surely associate him with the notion that sex motivates all human activity. Though a bit of a cliché, this belief is in fact quite accurate, to a degree that even many of the professors who talk about his work (mostly in history of psychology classes, these days) may fail to fully appreciate.

Sex as the Foundation of All Neurosis

Freud always saw himself, throughout his career, as a biological scientist with firm scientific roots, and most of his theory is built on a foundation of inherited, evolved instincts and drives that are required to insure survival. What made him unique among late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century thinkers was simply that he...