sigmund freud and 20th century events*

Numerous events that occured during the 20th century, ranging from the early 1900s when science was advancing and developing at a very fast pace, to World War I and II, in which technology was used as killing machines that caused massive destruction and disastrous, negative impacts on Sigmund Freud, despite the fact that he wasn't one of the soldiers. After the first war, Freud observed cases of traumatic, disturbed soldiers who had gone through the pains and evils of war, and concluded that it is human nature to be cruel, violent, and evil, and that both our death drive (death wish) and sexual drives account for our behavior--therefore people have difficulty choosing between love and death. In WWII, Freud was affected by Nazism and Hitler's hatred for Jews, as members of his family were captured and even killed, and his ideas were criticized and his books burned. From this, he stated that wars are examples of psychological conflict. Overall, Freud's times were difficult and troubled, causing changes in his ideas about human beings.

-- yuki