Freudian Slip: Definition, History, and Characteristics
The term “Freudian slip” is derived from a concept first introduced by Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud in his book The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901). Freudian slips are defined as an unintentional mistake or error in speech, memory, or physical action that is believed to express an unconscious repressed thought, feeling, or desire. Freudian slips are also referred to as parapraxes.
History
Freud believed that the human mind was composed of three distinct parts: the id, ego, and superego. Freud argued that the id was the unconscious part of the mind that contained all of our deepest desires, while the ego was the conscious part of the mind that was in charge of our behavior and our thoughts. The superego was the moral part of the mind that regulated our behavior and ensured that we followed society’s expectations. Freud argued that the ego often repressed certain desires from the id in order to comply with the expectations of the superego. He believed that these repressed desires could sometimes be expressed in the form of an unintentional mistake or error, such as a Freudian slip.
Characteristics
Freudian slips are typically characterized by a speaker saying something that is completely unrelated to the topic of conversation, or that is inappropriate or out of context. For example, if someone was talking about their plans to go on vacation and they accidentally said “I’m going to work” instead, this could be considered a Freudian slip. Freudian slips are also often humorous, as they can reveal a person’s true thoughts or feelings that they would rather not express consciously.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Freudian slips are unintentional mistakes or errors in speech, memory, or physical action that are believed to express an unconscious repressed thought, feeling, or desire. They are believed to be caused by the repression of certain desires from the id in order to comply with the expectations of the superego. Freudian slips are typically characterized by a speaker saying something that is completely unrelated to the topic of conversation, or that is inappropriate or out of context.
References
Freud, S. (1901). The Psychopathology of Everyday Life. London: Allen & Unwin.
Aron, A. (2003). The clinical relevance of the psychoanalytic concept of the “Freudian slip”. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 23(4), 659-678. https://doi.org/10.1080/0735169031000139818
David, D. (2003). Freudian slips: The object of psychoanalysis. In J. Roussillon (Ed.), Psychoanalysis and philosophy of the subject (pp. 73-90). Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.