Dylan MahaffeyProfessor WoodleyFreud & Mead Essay5 March 2014Mead v FreudSigmund Freud was a very prominent neurologist and is known as the father of psychoanalysis and being a leading thinker of his time between the late 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. His theory of human personality is a well-known theory of the twentieth century. His theory describes the importance of what is known as the Id, Ego and Superego. His theory differs largely from that of another well-known thinker known as George Herbert Mead. Mead is well known for his theory of the self. Mead's theory is more accepted than Freud's in today's society due to the increase in knowledge of the human person. I will analyze the differences in theories based on which theory allows for more free will in humans. Freud believed that a human being must go through certain stages in his life otherwise he will not develop socially to his full extent. He also stated that a human being is always struggling between his human and instinctive nature. This was a very controversial topic because Freud concluded that there was a lack of individuality in the human race. If Freud's theory were true, then human beings would have less choice in their lives and would truly be slaves to their instinctive nature. Despite being an intelligent figure of his time, I believe Freud went in the wrong direction when he approached his theory. Although human beings have a large amount of impulses described by him, the person himself can choose what to do based not only on society, but also on his own desires and needs. If Freud had lived today I am sure that his theory would have theorized very different things about human nature. I think it is important to analyze the distinct cultural context behind… the center of… the paper society. I find it strange that Mead's theory is very different from Freud's because they lived at relatively the same time. Differences between countries may have to do with divergence in theories. While Freud's theory seems to make more sense if you study history, the last few decades prove his theory wrong. Although different in theory, both Mead and Freud were trying to explain the complexities of what is known as human existence. Meads' theory states that we have more freedom and choice in our human development; while Freud theorizes that we are slaves to our instinctive nature. After analyzing the differences between the two theories I have come to the conclusion that Mead's theory of self more accurately describes my life and its experiences. Both Mead and Freud created great topics of debate for the world of sociology and the world of psychology alike.