According to psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, the slip is interpreted as the emergence of the contents of the unconscious mind. For example, a woman might mean to tell her friend, “I am so in love with John.” But instead of saying John’s name, she might say the name of her ex-boyfriend instead.

Freud is Still Relevant, But Only as a Reference Point Freud’s legacy has transcended science, with his ideas permeating deep into Western culture. Freud also argued for the idea that the brain can be compartmentalized, that brain function can be broken down into individual parts.

A Freudian slip, or parapraxis, refers to what you might also call a slip of the tongue. It’s when you mean to say one thing but instead say something entirely different. It commonly happens when you’re talking but can also occur when typing or writing something down — and even in your memory (or lack thereof).

Repression is a psychological defense mechanism in which unpleasant thoughts or memories are pushed from the conscious mind. An example might be someone who does not recall abuse in their early childhood, but still has problems with connection, aggression and anxiety resulting from the unremembered trauma.

Freudian slips of the tongue are another example of how repressed thoughts and feelings can make themselves known. Freud believed that mistaken slips of the tongue could be very revealing, often showing what we really think or feel about something on an unconscious level.

Signs of PTSD To determine whether you or a loved one may have PTSD that stems from childhood trauma, the following are some of the more common symptoms: Reliving the event over in your mind or nightmares. Becoming upset when there’s a reminder of the event. Intense and ongoing fear, sadness, and helplessness.