Was Sigmund Freud a humanist?

In stark contrast to Dr. Freud’s rather dark, mechanistic view of humankind, the humanistic psychologists founded their movement (and many of them saw it as a movement) on humanistic principles. In 1964, James F. T. Bugental crystallized five of these principles in an article (“The Third Force in Psychology,” Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 1964; 4; 19-26). read more

Freud was the first to suggest a “talking cure”, encouraging patients to talk about their difficulties and experiences, uncovering memories and feelings that have played a part in causing the mental condition affecting them. read more

Although Sigmund Freud’s own professional conduct was marred by the prejudices of his time, some of his concepts do cast light on the sources and nature of human irrationality. Freud believed that the mind is influenced by unacknowledged motives and unspoken memories. read more