Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1856 in Freiberg, Moravia, Austrian Empire (Now know as the Czech Republic). His father, Jacob Freud, was a Jewish wool merchant. Amalia Freud,mother to Sigmund, was Jacob’s third wife. Sigmund had two half brothers and a nephew that he was close with. (NJ)
In the early 1800’s schools we scarce. Later in the 18800’s more public schools were opening. By 1920 all of the states were requiring children to attend part of the year if they were between the ages of 8-14. When these schools opened all grade levels were taught together by one teacher. There were very few books or supplies. The demands on the teachers were so great that they often delegated their duties to the children. During this time these children were working as well. Depending on where they lived they could have been working on a farm. in a mine, or in a factory. There was little time for fun but when there was time it was often to play with a homemade toy or ride a bicycle. It wasn’t until the late 1900’s that toys were really being manufactured.(NJ)
Sigmund Freud attended a secondary school in Vienna where he graduated in 1873. In 1881 Freud received his medical degree from The University Of Vienna Medical School. Freud focused on physiology and neurology. He went on to train as a clinical assistant from 1882-1885 at the General Hospital in Vienna. Next, Freud traveled to Paris for a year to study with a neurologist named Jean-Martin Charcot. (NJ)
Freud believed that there were three parts to a personality. He also thought that the unconscious mind was where our memories, thoughts and emotions happened. The Id, The Ego, and The Superego are the three parts to the personality, according to Freud. He believed that in the classroom students were susceptible to their surroundings. The classroom should be a place that is easy to learn in while The Id is try to meet it’s needs and The Superego is trying to make good choices. Let’s find out a little more about the three personality parts.(NJ)
The Id: This is where all babies begin, the unconscious. They are selfish and want instant gratification. They have a need to be satisfied and will cry until the need is met.
The Ego: Still mostly in the unconscious, babies begin to learn that their needs may not be met right away. Here they learn about impulses and if they should act on them or not.
The Superego: Conscious state, learning wrong from right starts here, Typically this stage begins at age 5 and continues. The Superego works with The Ego to control the urges of The Id.
Freud also believed in Psycho-sexual Stages: (NJ)
- The Oral Stage: From birth to one year old, the erogenous zone is the mouth. Babies begin to mouth and chew on toys, suck on a bottle and need to learn to wean themselves.
- The Anal Stage: One year old to three years old, the erogenous zone is the bowel/bladder. Children learn control, independence and control at this stage.
- The Phallic Stage: Three years old to six years old, the erogenous zone is the genital area. Here children learn if they have a penis or not and begin to identify with the parent of the same sex.
- The Latent Stage: Six years old to puberty, the erogenous zone is the libido. This is the stage where social skills develop.
- The Genital Stage: Puberty to death. This is where finding balance happens and sexual interests begin.
Freud’s Psycho Sexual Stages(NJ)
He believed that personalities developed through these stages. One example is the anal retentive personality. Freud believed that if parents started potty training too early or pushed their child too hard during this stage that they would develop the anal retentive personality.(NJ)
Sigmund Freud contributed all of this knowledge, and much more to Early Childhood Education. Whether you agree with his beliefs or not, he has lead us to many great things. So many people have used his ideas to continue learning about Early Childhood and continued growing the knowledge that we have today from his theories. (NJ)
References
- Cherry, Kendra. “Sigmund Freud’s Remarkable Life and Legacy in Psychology.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 16 Sept. 2019, www.verywellmind.com/sigmund-freud-his-life-work-and-theories-2795860.
- Cherry, Kendra. “What Are Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development?” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 24 June 2019, www.verywellmind.com/freuds-stages-of-psychosexual-development-2795962.
- Children’s Lives at the Turn of the Twentieth Century.
- “Children‘s Lives at the Turn of the Twentieth Century.” Teacher’s Guide Primary Source Set, Library Of Congress, www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/childrens-lives/pdf/teacher_guide.pdf.
- “Frued’s Theory.” Developmental Standards Project , developmentalstandardsedpsy251.weebly.com/frueds-theory.html.
- Jay, Martin Evan. “Sigmund Freud.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 31 Oct. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Sigmund-Freud.
- Oswalt, Angela. “Gulf Bend MHMR Center.” Gulf Bend MHMR Center, www.gulfbend.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=7926&cn=.
