"Freud said that we are born as a tabula rasa. This is a model that simply is too superficial and inadequate"
- Stanislav Grof
About this Quote
This quote by Stanislav Grof is describing the psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud, which specifies that we are born as a "tabula rasa" or blank slate. This theory suggests that our personalities and habits are shaped by our experiences and environment. However, Grof thinks that this design is too simple and inadequate to describe the intricacies of human habits. He believes that our characters are formed by more than simply our environment, which our unconscious mind plays a major function in our behavior. He likewise believes that our habits is influenced by our previous experiences, both conscious and unconscious, which these experiences can have a profound impact on our present habits. Therefore, Grof thinks that Freud's tabula rasa design is too shallow and insufficient to discuss the complexities of human habits.
About the Author