What is Neo-Freudian Psychology?

The Port of Saint-Tropez, Painting by Maximilien Luce, 1893

Neo-Freudian psychology refers to the theoretical frameworks that built off of Sigmund Freud’s original psychoanalytic framework. Although these thinkers were inspired by Freud’s focus on the unconscious and the significance of early childhood experiences, they developed their own perspectives that challenged or extended his ideas. Neo-Freudians emphasized social, cultural, and interpersonal factors that Freud had largely overlooked. Instead, they redirected their focus towards more optimistic, socially influenced explanations of personality and behaviour, while Freud focused on sexual and aggressive drives as the core of human motivation.

One of the most well-known neo-Freudians was Carl Jung, who once had a close professional relationship with Freud before founding his own school of thought, Analytical Psychology. Jung introduced the concept of the collective unconscious, which is are universal human archetypes and instincts, and shifted emphasis away from Freud’s focus on sexual drives. Alfred Adler also shifted away from Freud’s sexual-focused theory by emphasizing feelings of inferiority and the individual’s strive for superiority as a main factor in personality development. His individual psychology focused on the importance of social relationships and the drive for feeling “good enough”.

Erik Erikson also expanded from psychoanalytic theory by offering a psychosocial model of development, which spans the entire human lifespan. Erikson proposed eight developmental stages, each with a a unique psychological conflict that must be resolved, while Freud believed that personality was largely fixed in early childhood. Erikson’s theory emphasized the weight on social relationships and conscious challenges rather than unconscious sexual conflicts. Karen Horney, another prominent neo-Freudian, critiqued Freud’s male-centered views and introduced a feminist perspective where she emphasized the role of neurotic needs and challenged Freud’s notion of "penis envy," instead proposing that men may experience "womb envy."

Two Women by the Shore, Mediterranean, Painting by Henri Edmond Cross, 1896

Although these theorists diverted from Freud’s theories, they maintained some key psychoanalytic principles while at the same time transforming the framework to be more humanistic. They acknowledged the importance and relevance of unconscious processes and early life experiences but resisted Freud’s view of pathology and human nature. Critics of the neo-Freudians argue that many of their ideas lacked empirical evidence and were often based on abstract, philosophical concepts. However, these contributions have significantly influenced psychodynamic approaches newer therapeutic approaches.

The influence of neo-Freudian psychology can be seen across modern psychotherapy and developmental theory. Erikson’s psychosocial stages remain crucial in understanding lifespan development, while Adler’s ideas influenced strength-based counselling approaches and contributed to Abraham Maslow’s humanistic psychology. Karen Horney’s work contributed to the development of feminist therapy and Carl Jung’s individual and collective-centered approach.