Freud. Psychology or Psychoanalysis?

I bet if I said the word Psychology, one of the first three words that you would think of, would be the name "Freud". What if I told you that Freud hadn't ever dealt with Psychology? What would be your reaction? Let’s take it step by step. Freud was a neurologist and, starting from the works of other authors, (Charcot and Janet) he developed an unconscious mind theory. Freud’s unconscious mind theory provides an explanation of behaviours that we are not aware of.

Anthony reads the post:

Do you have trouble understanding what the unconscious is? Some readers (probably many) know that Freud also worked with his patients' dreams, from which he extracted meanings to explain a behaviour or a symptom. Do you remember one of your dreams? Could you control your actions? I guess your answer is no. The dream is something out of your consciousness, for Freud, the dream contents are a manifestation of the unconscious.

Freud’s psychoanalysis started from the proposed existence of the unconscious mind and then he used this concept to develop a method to treat some disorders (technically: psychotherapeutic practice). With Freud’s work, began a way of dealing with patients' problems through consultation. These consultations shaped therapy (or rather psychotherapy). Due to this, Freud’s contribution to the practice of the profession is important.

Referring to his theoretical works, these belong to psychoanalysis (behaviour study through unconscious processes) rather than to psychology (observable behaviour study). The name Freud doesn’t mean Psychology. Freud is the most important exponent of psychoanalytic theory, but he did not deal exclusively with psychological research.

If for you, the name Freud instinctively means Psychology, then ask yourself what other names come to your mind if you think about Psychology? Do you know another author other than Freud who is a proponent of Psychology?

If you want me to describe in my own words a topic of psychology, please request it in the comment section.

Cited sources: Freud - The Interpretations of Dreams.