How is the self viewed from the psychoanalytic perspective?

The psychoanalytic perspective, rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud, posits that the self is significantly shaped by unconscious processes and conflicts. According to this viewpoint, many aspects of our personality and behaviors are driven by desires, fears, and memories that reside outside of our conscious awareness. These unconscious influences are often the result of unresolved inner conflicts and repressed experiences, which can manifest in various ways, including dreams, slips of the tongue, or neurotic behaviors.

Psychoanalysis places great emphasis on the inner workings of the mind, particularly how these unconscious factors interact with conscious thoughts and experiences. This perspective encourages exploration of these unconscious elements through techniques such as free association and dream analysis, ultimately aiming for greater self-awareness and resolution of internal conflicts. This understanding of the self as a product of both conscious and unconscious forces helps explain the complexities of human behavior and personality development within the framework of psychoanalysis.