Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939) – Austrian neurologist who is credited with developing the field of psychoanalysis.

Freud was born 6 May 1856  in Freiberg in Moravia, Austrian Empire
(now Příbor, Czech Republic) to Hasidic Jewish parents.

Freud was brought up in Leipzig and Vienna, he attended a prominent school, where Freud proved an outstanding student, excelling in languages, and English literature. He developed a love for reading Shakespeare in original English, something he kept up throughout his life.

At the age of 17, Freud joined the medical facility at the University of Vienna to study a range of subjects, such as philosophy, physiology and zoology.

Freud graduated in 1881 and began working at the Vienna General Hospital. He worked in various departments, such as psychiatric clinic and also combined medical practise with research work – such as an influential paper on aphasia (1891) and the effects of cocaine (1984). Freud was initially an advocate of using cocaine for pain relief, though he later stopped advocating its use – as its dangers became increasingly known. Freud was also an early researcher into the field of cerebral palsy.

Whilst working in different medical fields Freud continued his own independent reading. He was influenced by Charles Darwin’s relatively new theory of evolution. He also read extensively Friedrich Nietsche’s philosophy. Other influences on Freud included works on the existence of the subconscious, by writers such as Brentano and Theodor Lipps. Freud also studied the practise of hypnosis, as developed by Jean-Martin Charcot

In 1886, Freud left his hospital post, and set up his own private clinic, specialising in nervous disorders. An important aspect of Freud’s approach was to encourage patients to share their innermost thoughts and feelings, which often lie buried in the subconscious. Initially, he used the process of hypnosis, but later found he could just ask people to talk about their experiences.

Freud hoped that by bringing the unconscious thoughts and feelings to the surface, patients would be able to let go of repetitive negative emotions and feelings. Another technique he pioneered was ‘transference’ where patients would project negative feelings of other people on to the psycho-analyst. Freud himself wrote about the personal cost of delving into the darker aspects of the subconscious.

More and source: http://www.biographyonline.net/scientists/sigmund-freud-biography.html