“A Freudian slip is saying one thing when you mean your mother.” So goes a beloved psychology joke.
Between political gaffes and television comedies, Freudian slips happen every day. Also called “slips of the tongue,” these mistakes are named after Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis (the analysis and treatment of emotional disorders). The technical term for the phenomenon is “parapraxis,” which can best be described as a linguistic error (either verbal or written) that expresses unconscious feelings, beliefs, or impulses. Usually, these slips are harmless and can be attributed to common experiences, such as tiredness or being distracted — for example, when a child calls their teacher “mom,” or when a parent calls their child by a sibling’s name.
Other occurrences of parapraxis, such as the ones Freud studied, are a result of unconscious influences. Some can be deeply rooted, usually in desire, which is what most interested Freud. A common example is calling a current partner by an ex’s name. Freud first detailed these slips in his 1901 book, The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, where he referred to them as Fehlleistungen (German for “faulty actions”).
More research has been done on Freudian slips over the past century, some aiming to debunk Freud’s beliefs. Experts have yet to collect conclusive evidence that Freudian slips are a direct result of unconscious thoughts, but the topic is still up for debate. In the meantime, pop culture is full of notable examples of Freudian slips that led to great comedic effect.
One of the most famous Freudian slips in television history happened during season 4 of the hit sitcom Friends. In the 1998 episode “The One With Ross’s Wedding, Part 2,” Ross (played by David Schwimmer) demonstrates a familiar Freudian slip: accidentally using an ex-partner’s name for a current partner. At the altar, he says, “I, Ross, take thee, Rachel,” instead of “I, Ross, take thee, Emily,” the name of his wife-to-be. This verbal hiccup occurs after Rachel’s appearance at the ceremony takes him by surprise — a perfect example of subconscious thoughts causing a major fiasco.
Ross’ famous line came about thanks to a real slip of the tongue by Schwimmer: He genuinely mixed up the names “Rachel” and “Emily” during an earlier episode’s rehearsal. The producers loved it so much that they decided to use the mix-up as a storyline for the future wedding scene.
During the 2003 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), acclaimed actress Meryl Streep took to the stage to accept an award on behalf of Charlie Kaufman, who won Best Adapted Screenplay for Adaptation. As Streep read the amusing speech that Kaufman had sent to her, she accidentally said, “I would like to spank,” rather than “thank.” The audience roared with laughter as Streep paused and covered her mouth. She went on and fixed her mistake, obviously slightly embarrassed but also appearing to see the humor in the situation.
Former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron made an unfortunate gaffe when asked about taxation during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in 2012. Cameron explained that the Tories (a conservative British political party) were busy “raising more money for the rich.” He meant to say “for the poor,” but British tabloids poked fun at the slip.
Can you guess what line from Titanic was a result of a real slip of the tongue by Leonardo DiCaprio? During filming of the notorious nude drawing scene, DiCaprio made an awkward mistake — instead of directing Rose (Kate Winslet) to the couch, he said, “Over on the bed.” He quickly corrected himself, but the line was so good that producers kept it in the movie. While the actors claim there has never been anything romantic between them, perhaps DiCaprio’s Freudian slip hinted at what could have been.
The Austin Powers film franchise delighted audiences with its witty writing and off-the-wall antics involving Austin Powers and Dr. Evil (both played by Mike Myers). During a scene in Austin Powers in Goldmember, Dr. Evil notices that everything Powers does is aimed at gaining his father’s approval. After Dr. Evil points this out, Powers’ lines keep referring to his father: “Nothing could be my father from the truth!” and “No, I dadn’t!”
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