The Evolution of Freud: His Theoretical Development of the Mind-body Relationship, Metapsychology, and the Role of Sexuality

Renowned Freud scholar Barry R. Silverstein presents in a historical context an overview of the development of Freud's theories. What was Freud thinking, when, and why and what were the major influences which shaped his ideas? We follow the inner movement of his theory construction, its meaning and coherence, as well as his conceptual logic and personal directions concerning his evolving views of the reciprocal interactions between mind and body, the motivational force of instinctual drives, and the dominant role of sexuality rooted in evolutionary biology in human development, behaviour, and the creation of neurotic disturbances. We follow Freud's construction and sequential reconstructions of his theoretical models concerning the nature, dynamics, and principles of unconscious mental functioning, including his changing concepts on the nature and purpose of dreams. We trace his changing views on the role of deferred action of early childhood experiences and the determining role of unconscious fantasy, psychic reality, in the formation of adult character structure and neuroses. Through such historical analysis this book provides grounding for a meaningful understanding of Freud's familiar concepts: id, ego, superego, and the Oedipus complex. We explore what these concepts meant to Freud, why he conceived them, and what functions they served in his theory of mind.



This is the perfect book for students and trainees wanting to learn more about the development of Freud's ideas, as well as for established psychoanalysts and psychotherapists interested in expanding their knowledge of Freud's theories.

Barry R. Silverstein is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ. His early research as a developmental psychologist produced the book (with Ronald Krate) >Children of the Dark Ghetto: A Developmental Psychology> (Praeger, 1975), a study of the development of minority, inner-city children that is still widely cited. As an independent Freud researcher for more than forty years, he has published on the history of psychoanalysis in the journals: >The Psychoanalytic Review>, >American Imago>, >The Annual of Psychoanalysis>, >American Psychologist>, >Psych CRITIQUES>, >The Journal of Psychohistory>, and >Psychological Reports>. His Freud studies essays have been published in the volumes: >Freud: Appraisals and Reappraisals: Contributions to Freud Studies, Vol. 1> (The Analytic Press, 1986), and >Sigmund Freud: Critical Assessments> (Routledge, 1989). His invited essay on the origins and history of psychoanalysis was published in >The Freud Encyclopedia, Theory, Therapy, and Culture> (Routledge, 2002). He authored the book: >What was Freud Thinking? A Short Historical Introduction to Freud's Theories and Therapies> (Kendall-Hunt, 2003). He was a frequently invited reviewer for the journal, >Psychoanalytic Books>.