In conversations concerning psychoanalysis and psychology, the first name that comes to mind is most likely Sigmund Freud. Freud was an Austrian neurologist as well as the founder of psychoanalysis. He set up his clinical practice in Vienna and was also a professor there as well. While psychoanalysis is not generally used in clinics for diagnostics, Freud’s many theories are still very influential and well known in the fields of psychology and all across the humanities. Regardless of if Freud’s theories or practices were scientific enough to merit the scientific community’s approval, much of Freud’s work has become a staple in Western literary works and popular culture.
Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality is a work by Freud that further argues and expands upon his theories of sexuality in relation to the person’s childhood experiences. There are three main parts to this work: sexual perversions, childhood sexuality, and puberty. Freud discusses how thumb sucking, objects that affect behavior, and the biologically inevitable occurrence of puberty all contribute to how he connects the unconscious with sexuality and perversion.
Freud's work on sexual aberrations was written during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Victorian morality and sexual repression were prominent in European society. During this period, many aspects of human sexuality were considered taboo, and discussions of sexual matters were often conducted in hushed tones or avoided altogether. He discusses a range of sexual aberrations, including fetishism, homosexuality, sadomasochism, and more.
In the first essay, Freud delves into the concept of sexual aberrations, which are deviations from what society considers normative sexual behavior. He argues that sexual aberrations should be understood as variations of human sexuality rather than as pathologies. He proposes that aberrations often stem from unresolved conflicts in a person's psychosexual development, particularly during the latency stage of childhood.
The second essay focuses on the concept of infantile sexuality. Freud suggests that sexual feelings and behaviors are present in children from an early age, even though they may not be overtly sexual in nature. He introduces the idea of "polymorphous perversity," meaning that children have a wide range of pleasurable sensations, and their early sexual experiences are not limited to genital activity. Freud also outlines his theory of psychosexual development, which includes the oral, anal, and phallic stages. The Oedipus complex, a central concept in Freudian theory, is introduced in this essay, emphasizing the role of unconscious desires and conflicts in shaping an individual's sexual development.
In the third essay, Freud explores the transformations that occur during puberty and adolescence. He argues that the sexual energy invested in earlier stages, such as the Oedipus complex and the latent period, becomes redirected towards heterosexual object choices. This redirection of sexual energy is a crucial aspect of psychosexual development. Freud also discusses the development of sexual inhibitions, neuroses, and the significance of cultural and societal norms in shaping sexual behavior. He acknowledges that sexual development is complex and can lead to various psychological outcomes, including neurosis or normal adult sexuality.
Freud's exploration of sexual aberrations was groundbreaking because it shifted the focus from moral judgments to psychological understanding. He argued that many of these behaviors could be understood as variations of human sexuality rather than as disorders. Freud's approach opened the door for more open and scientifically informed discussions of sexuality, contributing to the development of modern sexology and the destigmatization of non-normative sexual orientations and practices.
