Sigmund Freud, born on 6 May 1856, in Freiberg,
Austrian Empire, was a neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a
clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient
and a psychoanalyst. His groundbreaking theories on the unconscious mind,
dreams, and the importance of sexuality in human development shaped the field
of psychology and continue to influence it today.
Freud's major works include The Interpretation of Dreams (1899), The
Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901), and Civilization and Its Discontents
(1930). Despite facing controversy and criticism during his lifetime and after,
Freud's ideas have left an indelible mark on the study of the human mind and
modern psychology.
Freud's circle of colleagues and followers included prominent figures like Carl
Jung and Alfred Adler, who eventually developed their own psychological
theories.
