Challenges to Freud's theory

Question 1

The lack of anthropological evidence for primal hordes

Answer 1

• all based on Darwin’s theories that were merely speculated by Darwin
• now thought that there was much greater variety in the way people were grouped and it wasn’t just in hordes

Question 2

What does Freud even admit?

Answer 2

That primal hordes had never been observed.

Question 3

Issue with transmission of guilt

Answer 3

No evidence for transmission of guilt, DNA understanding proves that is isn’t involved in an organism’s characteristics.

Question 4

No firm psychological evidence for Universal Oedipus complex

Answer 4

• Anthropologists have shown that beliefs, motives and emotional repossess to situations vary from culture to culture
• the dominant parental role also differs from culture to culture

Question 5

The issue with the Oedipus complex’s link to religion

Answer 5

The complex doesn’t cause religion but religion’s strict rules causes the Oedipus complex that then leads to neurosis

Question 6

Evidence basis too narrow

Answer 6

Freud failed to consider religions based on female deities and religions with no Gods.

Question 7

The issue with the selection of Freud’s patients

Answer 7

Many of his patients suffered in childhood by being seduced by older male relatives and Freud has changed the allegations to child fantasies.