Teaching Freud in One Lesson

High school sophomores are not mature enough to learn Freudian theory without anxiety and joking. Actually, they are rarely mature enough to learn anything without joking about it, but the Oedipal Complex is particularly difficult. Thus, as part of the high school World History curriculum (California Standard 10.64), I recommend simplifying to the following psychodynamic and philosophical concepts:

Structural theory of the mind:. Teach the relative power and functions of the id, superego, and ego, and how pressure on the ego leads to defense mechanisms.Teach what is unconscious and what is not. Don't bother talking much about dreams or free association.

Psychosocial stages: Teach the stages of development, oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital, including the potential for psychopathology when things go wrong in the satisfaction of  different stages. Don't bother going into detail about how the Oedipal drama leads to development of morality.

Determinism: Explain how Freud is a determinist and compare to a humanist such as Carl Rogers (link here) or an existentialist. (See my comparison to existentialist Nietzsche here.)

These concepts can be taught with one lesson. If sophomores understand the above, you have done well!

In order to help you along, here is a two-minute overview video explanation of much of the above. A fun skit is here.

Freud Encounters Nietzsche's Ghost

Freud Encounters Nietzsche’s Ghost

Scene: Vienna, 1922

Sigmund Freud: What is that spectral image in the likeness of the German philosopher Nietzsche doing in my study? Have you come to haunt me? I’m busy putting together my theories on the id and the ego. Be gone!

Friedrich Nietzsche: I just wanted to thank you for your determinism. Because of you, people believe that their unconscious desires control them, not their will. You will help remove from society all the idiots, imbeciles and dimwits that believe such nonsense.

Sigmund Freud: What do you believe, my long dead German friend?

Friedrich Nietzsche: We both write about the follies, the foolishness and sickness of humankind. I also write about its potential greatness, the coming of the Overman. One who is able, by the force of will, to overcome his limitations and reach his destiny. “If one has a why he can get through any how.”

Sigmund Freud: Very poetic. How do you explain the motivations of people?

Friedrich Nietzsche: Most people live simplistic, petty, useless lives and, lickspittles that they are, accomplish next to nothing. I care about the elite, the Overman. Women are not to be noticed. They are simply playthings for the warrior. “When you are with women, remember the whip.”

Sigmund Freud: Your misogynist beliefs are certainly not trendy. You do believe, as I do, in an unconscious?

Friedrich Nietzsche: Yes, instinct tells us to follow our ancient heroic values. We must show strength, not mercy. Mercy is for the weak and is a self-destructive cancer. We must move beyond good and evil. We can’t depend on gods or on conventional morality. The gods, listening to what men said about them laughed themselves to death.

Sigmund Freud: Your philosophy is dangerous. How would a people behave in a society that actually incorporated your teachings?

Friedrich Nietzsche: I predict that Germany will twist my writings into Social Darwinism’s ideas of racial superiority. Germany will then try to conquer the world.
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1. What is determinism? Who is the determinist, Freud or Nietzsche?






2. Define misogyny and spectral.





3. Who do you relate to better, Freud or Nietzsche? Why?