Discuss how Freud discovered the unconscious, including his use of hypnosis and free association to get at unconscious material. Describe the relationship between the topographical model and the structural model Freud proposed.

Sigmund Freud's discovery of the unconscious was a significant development in the field of psychology. Freud initially began his exploration of the unconscious through the use of hypnosis. He observed that during hypnosis, patients would often reveal repressed memories and emotions that they were not consciously aware of. This led Freud to believe that there was a part of the mind that operated outside of conscious awareness, which he termed the unconscious.

Freud also developed the technique of free association, where patients would say whatever came to mind without censoring their thoughts. Through this method, Freud believed that he could access the unconscious material that was influencing the patient's thoughts and behaviors. By analyzing the content of these free associations, Freud was able to uncover unconscious conflicts, desires, and fears that were impacting the individual's mental well-being.

Freud's topographical model of the mind proposed that the mind was divided into three levels: the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious. The conscious mind contained thoughts and perceptions that were currently in awareness, while the preconscious held thoughts and memories that could be easily brought into consciousness. The unconscious, according to Freud, contained repressed memories, desires, and instincts that were not accessible to conscious awareness.

In contrast, Freud's structural model of the mind proposed that the mind was divided into three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id represented the instinctual drives and desires, the ego was the rational and conscious part of the mind, and the superego represented the internalized moral standards and values. Freud believed that the interactions between these three components influenced an individual's thoughts, behaviors, and personality.

Overall, Freud's discovery of the unconscious and his development of techniques such as hypnosis and free association were pivotal in shaping the field of psychology. His topographical and structural models provided a framework for understanding the complexities of the human mind and the interplay between conscious and unconscious processes.