I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SIGMUND FREUD'S DEFINITION OF MENTAL ILLNESS WAS?

-- CAROL HAYES (CHAYESF@AOL.COM), April 27, 2002

Answers

I don't have a specific quotation for you, but I would say that it was something like failing to deal rationally with objective reality -- or, more specifically, allowing the demands of the id or super-ego (or both) overwhelm the ego and lead one away from operating according to the reality principle. You might have a look at Calvin S. Hall's little (122 pp.) _A Primer of Freudian Psychology_ to give you a more detailed persepctive. Or better still, read Freud's Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis_.

-- Christopher Green (christo@yorku.ca), April 27, 2002.

Carol....I just want to confirm the above response by adding that Freud defined psychosis as a flight from reality followed by the construction of an alternate reality that serves to protect the psyche from a more complete and final annihilation.

-- visualize me (visualizeme@webtv.net), May 02, 2002.

i was goin to answer the same question but was outstunned by christopher green and visualize me.....thankyou for the feedback.....it really helped.

-- Maria (mariarebello3@hotmail.com), December 08, 2002.