Psychoanalysis is a very complex and interesting topic of debate. The foundering father of psychoanalysis is Sigmund Freud (1836-1939). Freud began studying medicine at the University of Vienna in 1873; Freud was very interested in the mind, especially in the forms of mental illnesses such as neurosis and hysteria. As a philosopher Freud was interested in finding a connection between the mind and basic structures of society. Freud had many ideas and they were broken down into different sections from the Oedipus complex to the interpretation of dreams. Freud had a theory on the human psyche. Freud had initial ideas that the levels of consciousness in the mind were divided in to two parts, the conscious and the unconscious. The unconscious, which is part of our mind that we don't use knowingly, yet has a strong impact on our actions.
             An example would be when a barman might serve a young, blonde haired, blue-eyed woman before a man. He might have not consciously realised he was doing this. Yet subconsciously, it may be that he fancies her and prioritises her over the man. He may see it consciously as serving the first person there when in actual fact, unconsciously his attracted to her.
             However Freud changed his theory as it was to restricting and added a third level: the pre-conscious. The idea is that the information is stored away but easily obtainable. An example of this would be memories.
             In 1923 Freud noticed the clash within thought and mental processes which led him to identify three parts of our psyche. He referred to these as the Id, Ego and the Superego.
             The Id is 'the primitive, unconscious basis of the psyche, dominated by primary urges' (Richard Appignanesi, 1979 pg 156). It comes from the initial instinct to satisfy our needs and desires what can be known as the pleasure principle. The uncontrollable repressed part of our psyche. For example a newborn child is primaril...