logo

36 pages 1 hour read

Beyond the Pleasure Principle

Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1920

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Key Figures

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was an Austrian psychoanalyst who is considered to be the founder of modern psychology. In 1881, he became a Doctor of Medicine after completing his program at the University of Vienna. However, it was not until 1885 that the young doctor began to turn his attention toward psychoanalysis. While on a three-month fellowship in Paris, Freud visited a hypnotist who inspired him to bring hypnosis back to his own clinical practice.

Freud’s focus on therapeutic techniques was a shift from his contemporaries, who sought to categorize and name mental conditions rather than understand how to treat them. He used the techniques of free association and dream interpretation to engage his patients in uncovering the repressed desires and traumas residing in the unconscious. His work led him to develop a theory of the psyche containing three parts: id, ego, and superego. In his early work, Freud emphasized the role of the libido in driving human behavior toward pleasure-seeking. After setting up a private practice in Vienna, Freud worked with patients to interpret their dreams and uncover the repressed drives of the unconscious.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 36 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools