--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freudian psychoanalytical theory is a…" description: "\"Freudian psychoanalytical theory is a mythology that answers pretty well to Levi-Strauss's descriptions. It brings some kind of order into incoherence;..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/peter-medawar-9996_answers_freudian-psychoanalytical-theory-is-a-my_996920.jpg" --- # Freudian psychoanalytical theory is a mythology that… ![“Freudian psychoanalytical theory is a mythology that answers pretty well to Levi-Strauss's descriptions. It brings some kind of order into incoherence; it, too, hangs together, makes sense, leaves no loose ends, and is never (but never) at a loss for explanation. In a state of bewilderment it may…” quote by Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/peter-medawar-9996_answers_freudian-psychoanalytical-theory-is-a-my_996920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/peter-medawar-9996_answers_freudian-psychoanalytical-theory-is-a-my_996920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db2/peter-medawar-9996_answers_freudian-psychoanalytical-theory-is-a-my_996920.jpg) > “Freudian psychoanalytical theory is a mythology that answers pretty well to Levi-Strauss's descriptions. It brings some kind of order into incoherence; it, too, hangs together, makes sense, leaves no loose ends, and is never (but never) at a loss for explanation. In a state of bewilderment it may therefore bring comfort and relief… give its subject a new and deeper understanding of his own condition and of the nature of his relationship to his fellow men. A mythical structure will be built up around him which makes sense and is believable-in, regardless of whether or not it is true.” [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freudian psychoanalysis offers a narrative that organizes chaotic experiences into a coherent story, providing comfort and a sense of understanding, even if the story may not be factually true. **In simple terms:** Freud gives order to chaos, soothing the mind. Key Takeaway Use narratives to make sense of confusion. Themes psychology mythology comfort understanding narrative Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal reflection - academic critique - public discourse Key Concepts psychoanalysis mythic framing cognitive schema Questions to Reflect On - Does comforting narrative outweigh factual accuracy? - How can we balance story with science? A Different Perspective Reliance on mythic narratives can obscure empirical truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believability/) [Bewilderment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bewilderment/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Deeper understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeper-understanding/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Freudian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freudian/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Incoherence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incoherence/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Mythology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mythology/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Psychoanalysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychoanalysis/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [My mom being a psychotherapist, I've been brought up with that whole psychoanalytical terrain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-bonham-carter/my-mom-being-a-psychotherapist-i-ve-been-brought-up-with-that-whole/) [Helena Bonham Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-bonham-carter/) > [“In psychoanalytical theory there is a phenomenon called transference. The therapist becomes a blank screen, onto which the patient projects some incident or feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/in-psychoanalytical-theory-there-is-a-phenomenon-called-transference/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [During the Gold Rush, most would-be miners lost money, but people who sold them picks, shovels, tents and blue-jeans (Levi Strauss) made a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lynch/during-the-gold-rush-most-would-be-miners-lost-money-but-people-who/) [Peter Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lynch/) > [In Colma, a suburb of San Francisco, California there's a proposal pending to tax . . . the dead. If proponents get their way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/in-colma-a-suburb-of-san-francisco-california-there-s-a-proposal/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Claude Levi-Strauss has been a great source of fruitful irritation to my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/claude-levi-strauss-has-been-a-great-source-of-fruitful-irritation-to/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [My favorite designers are Levi Strauss and Fruit of the Loom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wright/my-favorite-designers-are-levi-strauss-and-fruit-of-the-loom/) [Robin Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wright/) > [The truth will set you free: believability will give you credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/the-truth-will-set-you-free-believability-will-give-you-credibility/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [I try to tell the story about the song with the believability that I've lived it myself and I understand what it's all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bennett/i-try-to-tell-the-story-about-the-song-with-the-believability-that-i/) [Tony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bennett/) > [If you stumble at mere believability, what are you living for? Isn't love hard to believe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/if-you-stumble-at-mere-believability-what-are-you-living-for-isn-t/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [You don't want to be acting your way towards something. The sense of believability has to be great, so bringing it as close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-dunbar/you-don-t-want-to-be-acting-your-way-towards-something-the-sense-of/) [Adrian Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-dunbar/) > [I recently found myself going through a period of uncertainty about my future as a performer, my status as a personality, the believability of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-recently-found-myself-going-through-a-period-of-uncertainty-about/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [When you're faced with a choice, you have one of three choices that you can have. You can have those with power decide. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/when-you-re-faced-with-a-choice-you-have-one-of-three-choices-that/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [It's something that people relate to - and I hope my kid doesn't relate to - but there's a level of believability in playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-sisto/it-s-something-that-people-relate-to-and-i-hope-my-kid-doesn-t-relate/) [Jeremy Sisto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-sisto/) > [I sing songs that I have lived or I write them because I have lived them. I think the believability factor is key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-sing-songs-that-i-have-lived-or-i-write-them-because-i-have-lived/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [If you stumble over mere believability, what are you living for? Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/if-you-stumble-over-mere-believability-what-are-you-living-for-love/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) ## More by Peter Medawar > [The USA is so enormous, and so numerous are its schools, colleges and religious seminaries, many devoted to special religious beliefs ranging from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/the-usa-is-so-enormous-and-so-numerous-are-its-schools-colleges-and/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [Innocent, unbiased observation is a myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/innocent-unbiased-observation-is-a-myth/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [An experiment not worth doing is not worth doing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/an-experiment-not-worth-doing-is-not-worth-doing-well/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [Science is the art of the solvable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/science-is-the-art-of-the-solvable/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [ \[A certain class of explanations in science are\] analgesics that dull the ache of incomprehension without removing the cause. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/a-certain-class-of-explanations-in-science-are-analgesics-that-dull/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [Twice in my life I have spent two weary and scientifically profitless years seeking evidence to corroborate dearly loved hypotheses that later proved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/twice-in-my-life-i-have-spent-two-weary-and-scientifically-profitless/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [If politics is the art of the possible, research is surely the art of the soluble. Both are immensely practical-minded affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/if-politics-is-the-art-of-the-possible-research-is-surely-the-art-of/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [Ask a scientist what he conceives the scientific method to be and he will adopt an expression that is at once solemn and shifty-eyed:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/ask-a-scientist-what-he-conceives-the-scientific-method-to-be-and-he/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [The human mind treats a new idea the way the body treats a strange protein; it rejects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/the-human-mind-treats-a-new-idea-the-way-the-body-treats-a-strange/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [I once spoke to a human geneticist who declared that the notion of intelligence was quite meaningless, so I tried calling him unintelligent. 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It brings some kind of order into incoherence; it, too, hangs together, makes sense, leaves no loose ends, and is never (but never) at a loss for explanation. In a state of bewilderment it may therefore bring comfort and relief… give its subject a new and deeper understanding of his own condition and of the nature of his relationship to his fellow men. 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