The Interpretation of Dreams (1899)

The Interpretation of Dreams (1899), title page, by Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). The original German title shown here is 'Die Traumdeutung'. In this book, Freud proposed his theory of the unconscious and the concept of dream interpretation. Freud established the idea that mental disorders could have psychological as well as physiological causes. He theorised that the human mind contains both conscious and unconscious levels. Unpleasant memories are repressed and stored unconsciously, but they still affect the behaviour of a patient. Freud analysed dreams to study this unconscious level. His studies led him to believe that sexual impulses were responsible for irrational thoughts and behaviour (neuroses). The year printed on the title page is 1900, though this work was actually published in 1899.