# Freudian Slip? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2019, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232 "2019-11-10T06:27:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232/1 "2019-11-10T06:27:14Z")
I have wondered for a while now. Is there really such a thing as a Freudian slip? I mean, when people say something that seems to show their hidden intent, is that really subconsciously done? Or is it just coincidence? I put this in General Questions, because I am assuming psychology is a science now, not just an art. And there is a way of knowing now. :):):)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232/2 "2019-11-10T06:34:51Z")
I say no. It’s just a coincidentally funny arraignment of words. No hidden intent. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232/3 "2019-11-10T06:39:50Z")
Some videos I’ve seen of people with verbal Tourette’s it seems like they can blurt out their actual thoughts though I don’t know if it’s necessarily always their thoughts on a conscious level. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232/4 "2019-11-10T09:21:11Z")
I think it’s just a case of the listener mis-interpreting the speaker’s penis - I mean intent, Mother! I’m all right! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232/5 "2019-11-10T12:21:12Z")
[You be the judge](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=294892) As to whether or not Freud’s theories shed any light on the phenomenon or not, I cannot say. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232/6 "2019-11-10T15:07:19Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I say no. It’s just a coincidentally funny arraignment of words. No hidden intent. > [@Wallaby](#): > > I think it’s just a case of the listener mis-interpreting the speaker’s penis - I mean intent, Mother! I’m all right! > [@AHunter3](#): > > [You be the judge](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=294892) > As to whether or not Freud’s theories shed any light on the phenomenon or not, I cannot say. **Moderator Note** In General Questions we prefer that posters hold back on their personal opinions and jokes until some factual information has been posted. If someone has some actual information on the state of scientific knowledge, go ahead and post it. Personal opinions belong in IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232/7 "2019-11-10T15:43:08Z")
[Here’s a pretty good article on the topic](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160706-what-freudian-slips-really-reveal-about-your-mind). Short answer: we’re not sure. There are some intriguing experiments suggesting that some Freudian slips are connected to repressed thoughts, but other linguistic evidence that a lot of Freudian slips are connected to how the brain produces verbal language out of phonemes. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freudian-slip/843232/8 "2019-11-10T15:48:52Z")
Well, there’s the Ironic Process Theory. Try not to think of something and that is a all you can think about. In stream of conscious speaking, subjects are more likely than not to mention a word or subject they are consciously trying to supresss.