All three work together to make a functional and healthy personality. He also theorized that these 3 parts often conflict causing misshaped personalities, if not treated. Sigmund Freud was the first to propose the theory of psychoanalysis, which he used to treat mental disorders. His approach was to observe his patients during therapeutic sessions, in which his patients would talk about their thoughts without any reservations. He would focus on how the person would see the world instead of trying to get into their head. To this day, Freud's theory about psychosexual stages and unconscious still remain popular amongst psychologist.
Freud's theory of sexuality and the nature of neuroses led him to develop a clinical treatment for treating such disorders. This has become so influential today that when people speak of psychoanalysis they mostly refer to the clinical treatment; however, the term properly refers to both the clinical treatment and the theory which underlies it. The most important contribution of Freud's psychoanalytic theories is the fact that it ignited more study of the human mind, and the motivation behind a person's behavior, this lead to more study and discovery of new ideas and theories. Although his theories do fall under criticism by most people, Freud's work developed a new way of seeing human nature; still his legacy lives on in those who believed in him. .
Psychologists now know that the mental conflicts of the neurotic are not conflicts of human nature. Instead they are based on the influential forces and social conflicts of the social environment within which the individual personality develops and functions. He also offered evidence that cultural differences have an impact on psychology and behavior. Freud wrote and theorized about a number of subjects including sex, dreams, religion, women, and culture. His psychoanalytic techniques are still used in clinical practices today, as well as his theories are being taught in textbooks.
