Why we think & do, what we think & do ?

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Our behaviour is shaped by our thoughts and actions. Each of us has a different behaviour, even when external situations are similar. Psychology is the science that analyses our behaviour, thoughts, and consequent actions. Like medicine, psychology is also an imperfect science. Explanations about our behaviour, thoughts and feelings is often based on certain theories. These theories about thought, help us understand why we think and behave in the manner we do. At the dawn of 20th century, we saw emergence of a new theory of thought later termed as Psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud, a towering yet controversial figure of his times, is regarded as father of psychoanalysis.

Sigmund Freud

Born in 1856, Freud completed his medical education from Vienna Medical School (see a previous blog) in 1881. Inspired by French physician Charcot, and German physiologist Ernst Brucke, he developed a keen interest in working of human mind.

He proposed, and propagated various theories related to thought. Some of these concepts continue to be debated as well as accepted till the current times. He proposed that our mind consists of an unconscious as well as a conscious thought. Interplay between the two, shapes our behaviour as well as actions. This concept of layered human mind, is also featured in some postage stamps that depict mental health.

Freud believed that our suppressed unconscious, expresses itself as behavioural aberrations, such as hysteria, neurosis or melancholy. In 1923, he proposed a tripartite framework of mind. As per this framework, our mind needs to balance our material desires (Id), preservation of self (ego), and an idealised thought process (super-ego). Variations in these three ingredients of tripartite, shape our personalities. Different personalities seek to resolve conflicts in the tripartite through various behavioural mechanisms. Freud linked many conflicts in adulthood to subconscious thoughts related to libido and sexuality in infancy and childhood.

Carl Jung

Carl Jung was twenty years younger than Freud. He had a tumulus upbringing, and in early 1900s came across Freud’s work. Initially the two worked in tandem, and Jung helped popularise Freud’s theories of Psychoanalysis. However, the two had irrevocable differences, and by 1931 Jung had setup a distinct concept of analytic psychoanalysis.

Unlike Freud, Jung’s construct does not label experiences as good or bad. Instead, variable experiences shape our “self”. Two states personal unconscious (our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and memories) and collective unconscious (generational, societal or inherited thoughts) shape our “self”. Like Freud, Jung also described a tripartite struggle between our persona (outward face), anima (inward or hidden thoughts), and shadow (experiences we wish to hide).

Indian Psychoanalytic Society

Freudian thought inspired many psychiatrists across the world. In India, Dr Girindasekhar Bose, a Calcutta based Physician was inspired by Sigmund Freud. Two shared many letters and thoughts, and Bose established Indian Psychoanalytical Society in 1922. In 2022, Indian Psychoanalytic Society celebrated its 100 years of existence, though a special cover and a cancellation.

Portrayal of human mind in postage stamps

Unlike Brain, mind does not have a physical shape. It is a rather abstract concept, full of suspense and mysticism. A special cover from Bangalore (2017) depicts mind as a mesh of beautiful colours, playing and intertwined in our head. Another stamp from Thailand (1989) depicts mind as an outgoing spiral of thought and energy. Mind is distinct from brain, a physical mesh of our nerves (a more frequent topic for postage stamps than our mind).

Psychology – a study of human behaviour is closely related to psychiatry – a study of disorders of human mind. Psychologists and Psychiatrists often need to collaborate to assess as well as to treat non conformities of human mind. Our mind is bright and creative, but at times can also be dark and devilish. This dualism is inherent to our understanding of thought. It is a complexity, we need to deal with, in all of our passing moments.