Who Were the Neo-Freudians?

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Neo-Freudian psychologists were thinkers who agreed with many of the fundamental tenets ofFreud’s psychoanalytic theorybut changed and adapted the approach to incorporate their own beliefs, ideas, and opinions. PsychologistSigmund Freudproposed many ideas that were highly controversial, but he also attracted a number of followers.

Many of these thinkers agreed with Freud’s concept of theunconscious mindand the importance of early childhood. There were, however, a number of points that other scholars disagreed with or directly rejected. Because of this, these individuals went on to propose their own unique theories of personality and cognition.

Neo-Freudian Disagreements

Many neo-Freudians felt that Freud’s theories focus too heavily onpsychopathology, sex, and childhood experiences. Instead, many chose to focus their theories on more positive aspects of human nature and the social influences that contribute topersonalityand behavior.

Major Neo-Freudian Thinkers

There were a number of neo-Freudian thinkers who broke with the Freudian psychoanalytic tradition to develop their own psychodynamic theories. Some of these individuals were initially part of Freud’s inner circle, includingCarl Jungand Alfred Adler.

Carl Jung and Analytical Psychology

Carl Jung and Freud once had a close friendship, but Jung broke away to form his own ideas.Freud once viewed Jung as his protege, but their disagreements eventually led to the breakdown of their friendship and professional relationship.

Jung still placed great emphasis on the unconscious, but his theory placed a higher focus on his concept of the collective unconscious rather than the personal unconscious.

Like many other neo-Freudians, Jung also focused less on sex than Freud did in his work.

Alfred Adler and Individual Psychology

Alfred Adlerwas one of the early members of Freud’s psychoanalytic discussion group that met each week in Freud’s home. He played an essential role in establishing psychoanalysis but eventually broke away from Freud’s ideas.

Adler believed that Freud’s theories focused too heavily on sex as the primary motivator for human behavior.

Instead, Adler placed a lesser emphasis on the role of the unconscious and a greater focus on interpersonal and social influences.

His approach, known as individual psychology, was centered on the drive that all people have to compensate for their feelings ofinferiority. The inferiority complex, he suggested, was a person’s feelings and doubts that they do not measure up to other people or to society’s expectations.

Erik Erikson and Psychosocial Development

While Freud believed that personality was mostly set in stone during early childhood, Erikson felt that development continued throughout life. He also believed that not all conflicts were unconscious. He thought many were conscious and resulted from the developmental process itself.

Erikson de-emphasized the role of sex as a motivator for behavior and instead placed a much stronger focus on the role of social relationships.

His eight-stage theory of psychosocial development concentrates on a series of developmental conflicts that occur throughout the lifespan, from birth until death. At each stage, people face a crisis that must be resolved to develop certain psychological strengths.

The 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development

Karen Horney and Feminine Psychology

Karen Horneywas one of the first women trained in psychoanalysis, and she was also one of the first to criticize Freud’s depictions of women as inferior to men. Horney objected to Freud’s portrayal of women as suffering from “penis envy.”

Contributions and Criticisms of the Neo-Freudians

The neo-Freudians transformed and expanded some of Freud’s original psychoanalytic ideas. While many of these thinkers supported some of the basic tenets of psychoanalysis, such as the important impact of childhood events and the influence of the unconscious.

However, many of these thinkers disagreed with Freud’s emphasis on sex, his negative view of human nature, and his emphasis on psychopathology. Instead, many of the neo-Freudian thinkers believed that social and cultural influences significantly shaped human behavior and personality.

While the neo-Freudians made important contributions in shaping the field of psychology, their theories were also the subject of criticism.

Many took a highly philosophical approach and lacked empirical, scientific support. Jung’s theories, for example, were primarily rooted in his observations of dreams, mythology, and legends.

Impact of the Neo-Freudians

The work and theories of the neo-Freudian thinkers significantly impacted the field of psychology. Erikson’s work, for example, influenced the field of developmental psychology with its emphasis on how social and cultural factors impact human development throughout the entire lifespan.

Other neo-Freudians, including Karen Horney, helped inspire theperson-centered therapyof Carl Rogers. In this non-directive form of therapy, individuals take an active role in the therapy process.

Adler and the other neo-Freudians' also influenced the work of psychologistAbraham Maslow, who developed an influentialhierarchy of needsto explain human motivation.

A Word From Verywell

While both Freudian and neo-Freudian ideas have largely fallen out of favor, they did play a role in shaping the field of psychology. Neo-Freudian ideas also contributed to the development of other theories of psychology that often focused on things such as personal and social development.

How Psychoanalysis Influenced the Field of Psychology

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.McCarthy JB.Hundred years of the psychoanalytic progressive mental health movement.Am J Psychoanal. 2023;83(1):1-11. doi:10.1057/s11231-023-09390-1American Psychologicial Association.Neo-Freudian. In:APA Dictionary of Psychology. Washington, D.C.: American Psychologicial Association.Doran C.Rage and anxiety in the split between Freud and Jung.Humanities. 2017;6(3):53. doi:10.3390/h6030053Alfred Adler Institute of New York.About Alfred Adler.Hoffman L.Un homme manque: Freud’s engagement with Alfred Adler’s masculine protest: Commentary on Balsam.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 2017;65(1):99-108. doi:10.1177/0003065117690351Mosak H, Maniacci M.Primer of Adlerian Psychology: The Analytic-Behavioural-Cognitive Psychology of Alfred Adler.New York: Routledge; 2013.Sacco RG.Re-envisaging the eight developmental stages of Erik Erikson: Fobonacci Life-Chart Method (FLCM).Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology. 2013;3(1). doi:10.5539/jedp.v3n1p140Aldridge J, Kilgo JL, Jepkemboi G.Four hidden matriarchs of psychoanalysis: The relationship of Lou von Salome, Karen Horney, Sabina Spielrein and Anna Freud to Sigmund Freud.International Journal of Psychology and Counseling.2014;6(4):32-39. doi:10.5897/IJPC2014.0250Psychology’s Feminist Voices.Profile: Karen Horney.Mansager E, Bluvshtein M.Adler and Maslow in collaboration: applied therapeutic creativity.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 2020;60(6):959-979. doi:10.1177/0022167817745643

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.McCarthy JB.Hundred years of the psychoanalytic progressive mental health movement.Am J Psychoanal. 2023;83(1):1-11. doi:10.1057/s11231-023-09390-1American Psychologicial Association.Neo-Freudian. In:APA Dictionary of Psychology. Washington, D.C.: American Psychologicial Association.Doran C.Rage and anxiety in the split between Freud and Jung.Humanities. 2017;6(3):53. doi:10.3390/h6030053Alfred Adler Institute of New York.About Alfred Adler.Hoffman L.Un homme manque: Freud’s engagement with Alfred Adler’s masculine protest: Commentary on Balsam.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 2017;65(1):99-108. doi:10.1177/0003065117690351Mosak H, Maniacci M.Primer of Adlerian Psychology: The Analytic-Behavioural-Cognitive Psychology of Alfred Adler.New York: Routledge; 2013.Sacco RG.Re-envisaging the eight developmental stages of Erik Erikson: Fobonacci Life-Chart Method (FLCM).Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology. 2013;3(1). doi:10.5539/jedp.v3n1p140Aldridge J, Kilgo JL, Jepkemboi G.Four hidden matriarchs of psychoanalysis: The relationship of Lou von Salome, Karen Horney, Sabina Spielrein and Anna Freud to Sigmund Freud.International Journal of Psychology and Counseling.2014;6(4):32-39. doi:10.5897/IJPC2014.0250Psychology’s Feminist Voices.Profile: Karen Horney.Mansager E, Bluvshtein M.Adler and Maslow in collaboration: applied therapeutic creativity.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 2020;60(6):959-979. doi:10.1177/0022167817745643

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

McCarthy JB.Hundred years of the psychoanalytic progressive mental health movement.Am J Psychoanal. 2023;83(1):1-11. doi:10.1057/s11231-023-09390-1American Psychologicial Association.Neo-Freudian. In:APA Dictionary of Psychology. Washington, D.C.: American Psychologicial Association.Doran C.Rage and anxiety in the split between Freud and Jung.Humanities. 2017;6(3):53. doi:10.3390/h6030053Alfred Adler Institute of New York.About Alfred Adler.Hoffman L.Un homme manque: Freud’s engagement with Alfred Adler’s masculine protest: Commentary on Balsam.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 2017;65(1):99-108. doi:10.1177/0003065117690351Mosak H, Maniacci M.Primer of Adlerian Psychology: The Analytic-Behavioural-Cognitive Psychology of Alfred Adler.New York: Routledge; 2013.Sacco RG.Re-envisaging the eight developmental stages of Erik Erikson: Fobonacci Life-Chart Method (FLCM).Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology. 2013;3(1). doi:10.5539/jedp.v3n1p140Aldridge J, Kilgo JL, Jepkemboi G.Four hidden matriarchs of psychoanalysis: The relationship of Lou von Salome, Karen Horney, Sabina Spielrein and Anna Freud to Sigmund Freud.International Journal of Psychology and Counseling.2014;6(4):32-39. doi:10.5897/IJPC2014.0250Psychology’s Feminist Voices.Profile: Karen Horney.Mansager E, Bluvshtein M.Adler and Maslow in collaboration: applied therapeutic creativity.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 2020;60(6):959-979. doi:10.1177/0022167817745643

McCarthy JB.Hundred years of the psychoanalytic progressive mental health movement.Am J Psychoanal. 2023;83(1):1-11. doi:10.1057/s11231-023-09390-1

American Psychologicial Association.Neo-Freudian. In:APA Dictionary of Psychology. Washington, D.C.: American Psychologicial Association.

Doran C.Rage and anxiety in the split between Freud and Jung.Humanities. 2017;6(3):53. doi:10.3390/h6030053

Alfred Adler Institute of New York.About Alfred Adler.

Hoffman L.Un homme manque: Freud’s engagement with Alfred Adler’s masculine protest: Commentary on Balsam.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. 2017;65(1):99-108. doi:10.1177/0003065117690351

Mosak H, Maniacci M.Primer of Adlerian Psychology: The Analytic-Behavioural-Cognitive Psychology of Alfred Adler.New York: Routledge; 2013.

Sacco RG.Re-envisaging the eight developmental stages of Erik Erikson: Fobonacci Life-Chart Method (FLCM).Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology. 2013;3(1). doi:10.5539/jedp.v3n1p140

Aldridge J, Kilgo JL, Jepkemboi G.Four hidden matriarchs of psychoanalysis: The relationship of Lou von Salome, Karen Horney, Sabina Spielrein and Anna Freud to Sigmund Freud.International Journal of Psychology and Counseling.2014;6(4):32-39. doi:10.5897/IJPC2014.0250

Psychology’s Feminist Voices.Profile: Karen Horney.

Mansager E, Bluvshtein M.Adler and Maslow in collaboration: applied therapeutic creativity.Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 2020;60(6):959-979. doi:10.1177/0022167817745643

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