What is a Freudian slip? Types, causes, and examples
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, CDCES, MBA
Discover what a Freudian slip is, including the different types, what causes them, and real-life examples. Plus, how using mindfulness may help you reduce slips.
In a famous episode of “Friends,” Ross says the wrong name during his wedding vows, leading his bride, Emily, to believe that he’s still in love with Rachel. Although he swore up and down that the mistake was meaningless, she wasn’t convinced. Basically, Emily believed that it was a Freudian slip — a mistake that revealed his true, inner feelings. Spoiler alert: She was right.
These communication errors happen all the time in real life, too. Once, during a speech, President Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, said, “Facts are stupid things,” instead of, “Facts are stubborn things.” And in 2014, Pope Francis accidentally used the word "cazzo" (a curse word in Italian) instead of "caso" (which means “case”). While oftentimes embarrassing or uncomfortable, freudian slips happen. And they’ve probably happened to you too.
Do these mistakes actually have deeper meaning, or are they just silly slips of the tongue? It depends on how much you believe in the teachings of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.
What is a Freudian slip?
A Freudian slip, also known as parapraxis, is an unintentional error in speech, memory, or action that some believe reveal our unconscious thoughts or desires.
According to Freud, our mind is divided into three parts — the conscious mind (everything we’re aware of,) the preconscious mind (information we can bring into our conscious awareness,) and the unconscious (the place that holds repressed memories, desires and feelings.)
The theory is that Freudian slips occur when these hidden thoughts and feelings momentarily break through into our conscious mind. For example, if someone intends to say, "I'm glad to meet you," but accidentally says, "I'm mad to meet you," it might suggest underlying frustration or anger that they may not be fully aware of.
Some psychoanalysts believe that by analyzing these slips, they can uncover unconscious feelings and unresolved conflicts that might be affecting someone's mental health. For example, if a person frequently makes slips related to fear or anxiety, it might indicate underlying stress or unresolved trauma.
Types of Freudian slips
There are three main types of Freudian slips.
Verbal slips: A verbal slip is when someone says something unintentionally that may reveal an unconscious thought or desire. For instance, calling a new partner by an ex-partner's name might suggest lingering feelings for your former partner. Of course, it could also mean nothing at all.
Memory slips: Forgetting names, events, or other information that might indicate repressed thoughts or foggy memory. For example, blanking on an appointment with someone you dislike might suggest an unconscious desire to avoid them.
Action slips: Action slips are unintentional behaviors that may reveal hidden feelings. For example, accidentally brushing the hand of your crush while walking side by side. It should be noted that this kind of Freudian slip is never an excuse for nonconsensual touch.
What causes Freudian slips?
Freudian slips may happen for several reasons, including psychological (having to do with the mind) and neurological (having to do with the brain) factors.
Psychological causes
Stress: High stress levels can make it difficult to concentrate. Your unconscious mind may express hidden thoughts or feelings when you’re stressed.
Fatigue: When you’re tired, it’s tougher to control what you say and do. Fatigue may allow unconscious thoughts to surface more easily.
Repressed thoughts: Uncomfortable memories or desires may resurface as Freudian slips, revealing hidden emotions or unresolved conflicts.
Emotional conflict: Your mind may struggle to keep conflicting emotions or thoughts separate, which may lead to slips.
Neurological causes
Brain processing: Your brain is always processing information, both consciously and unconsciously — but the boundaries between the two can blur. Sometimes, unconscious thoughts influence our conscious speech or actions.
Cognitive overload: When our brain is overloaded with information or tasks, it can struggle to manage everything. Slips may occur when more automatic processes take over.
Language production: Talking is a complex process that involves multiple areas of the brain. Sometimes, errors occur in this process, leading to slips.
Situational factors
Being in a situation that reminds someone of a past experience might cause an unconscious thought to surface.
Interacting with certain people may also increase the likelihood of slips. For instance, talking to someone you secretly dislike might result in slips that reveal your true feelings.
A few examples of Freudian slips
Freudian slips can happen to anyone — so try not to sweat it when they happen to you.
In conversations: Imagine you're talking to a friend and mean to say, "I need to pick up some milk," but instead, you accidentally say, "I need to pick up some Mike." This slip might indicate that you're thinking about someone named Mike, even if you weren't consciously aware of it.
At work: During a business meeting, you might intend to say, "Let's focus on the budget," but accidentally say, "Let's focus on the burden." This may suggest underlying feelings of stress or frustration about the workload or the project.
With family: You might call your current partner by your ex-partner's name, which is a communication mishap most people have experienced. This can be embarrassing, hurt your partner’s feelings, and might suggest unresolved feelings or memories related to your ex. Of course, it could also mean nothing and could just be a simple mistake.
5 tips for using mindfulness to reduce slips
Being fully present and engaged in the current moment can help you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings. Practicing mindfulness can help improve mental clarity, and may reduce the likelihood of Freudian slips.
1. Practice deep breathing
Deep breathing exercises can help calm your mind and body, making you more aware of your thoughts.
Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs. Hold your breath for a few seconds, then slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat this several times, focusing on the sensation of breathing.
💙 Try this simple breathing exercise, Reset with the Breath, to calm your breath and your nervous system.
2. Work on staying present
Focusing on the present may help you avoid mistakes that come from thinking about the past or worrying about the future.
Engage fully in whatever you’re doing, whether it's a conversation, a task at work, or a leisurely activity. Pay attention to your surroundings and the sensations you’re experiencing right now.
💙 Explore seven ways to help you learn how to embrace the present moment.
3. Schedule a feelings check-in with yourself
Regularly checking in with your emotions can help you understand what you’re feeling and why. This may help prevent repressed thoughts from surfacing.
Take a few minutes each day to sit quietly and think about what’s going on in your life. Consider how well you’re coping, or not, and make a plan to adjust your lifestyle as needed to support your emotional wellbeing.
💙 Hold space each day to reflect on how you’re feeling with our Emotions Check-in guided meditation.
4. Keep a journal to understand yourself better
Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you process and better understand your emotions. Keeping a log of your feelings can also help you detect changes or patterns in your mood, plus give insight into potential triggers that cause you to feel a certain way.
Each day, note any significant thoughts, feelings, or experiences. You can even log your dreams. Be honest and detailed in your writing, which can help you recall past experiences that can help you with current or future feelings.
💙 Check out these seven tips to help you start your own journaling practice to boost your awareness and mental health.
5. Try incorporating meditation into your daily or weekly routine
A regular meditation practice can enhance your overall mindfulness and self-awareness, helping you maintain more effective control over your thoughts and speech.
Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. When your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to your breath. Start with a few minutes a day and gradually increase the duration.
💙 Begin your mindful meditation journey with Jeff Warren’s Mindfulness for Beginners series.
Freudian slip FAQs
How do you trigger a Freudian slip?
Freudian slips are usually unintentional. However, certain conditions may increase the likelihood of these slips occurring.
Stress: High stress levels can cause your mind to be preoccupied, which may allow for unconscious thoughts to slip out.
Fatigue: When you're tired, you're more likely to make mistakes.
Emotional situations: Being in emotionally charged situations may bring out repressed feelings.
Distraction: When your mind is elsewhere, you're more likely to say something you don’t mean.
Are Freudian slips always significant, or can they be purely coincidental?
Not all Freudian slips are significant or deeply meaningful. Some slips are purely coincidental and don't reveal hidden thoughts or desires. They can result from simple errors in speech or memory. While some slips may provide insights into unconscious thoughts, others are just everyday mistakes.
Speech errors: Sometimes, slips happen due to the complexity of language processing in the brain, where similar-sounding words are accidentally swapped.
Memory lapses: Forgetting someone's name or details can be a normal part of memory function and not necessarily indicative of deeper issues.
What is the most famous Freudian slip?
One of the most famous Freudian slips occurred during a speech by President George H.W. Bush. He intended to say, "We’ve had triumphs, we’ve made some mistakes, we’ve had some setbacks," but instead said, "We’ve had triumphs, we’ve made some mistakes, we’ve had some sex."
What is another name for a Freudian slip?
Another name for a Freudian slip is parapraxis. This term is used in psychoanalytic theory to describe errors in speech, memory, or action that reveal unconscious thoughts or desires.
What are some common misconceptions about Freudian slips?
There are several common misconceptions about Freudian slips.
Every slip is meaningful: Not all slips might reveal deep-seated issues. Some are just simple mistakes without any hidden meaning.
Only negative feelings: People often think slips only reveal negative feelings or thoughts, but they may also reflect positive or neutral unconscious thoughts.
Freud's theory is always right: While Freud's ideas are influential, modern psychology and neuroscience offer alternative explanations for slips that don't necessarily align with his theory.
Slips are rare: People might assume that Freudian slips are rare, but they happen quite frequently in everyday life. Many times, they don’t have significant meaning.
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