Free association involves allowing the patient to state whatever emerges in their mind.

New Mexico Highlands University

With the main goal of accessing people’s unconsciousness, Freud proposed three different ways to gain insight:
* Dream Analysis
* First-word associations
* The Freudian Slip
* Free association

Methods of Psychoanalysis

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

According to Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory, dreams offer a gateway to the unconscious mind. He proposed that by analyzing dreams, individuals could enhance their self-awareness and uncover valuable insights, which could then be used to address problems in their waking lives.

Psychoanalysis: Dream Analysis

The first words that one associates with a topic or an object may help therapists gain insight to their unconscious mind. 

Psychoanalysis: First Word Associations

Free-association

A Freudian slip is a speech error, such as unintentionally substituting one word for another. According to Sigmund Freud's theory, these are not random mistakes but are instead the accidental release of repressed sexual or aggressive urges that have slipped out of the unconscious mind.

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