Free association is a psychological technique that was originally developed by Sigmund Freud as part of psychoanalysis. It’s a basic process in psychoanalysis where a person says whatever is on his mind, without any inhibition, no matter how random, embarrassing or unrelated it may seem.
The purpose is to get past conscious control and uncover hidden thoughts, feelings, or memories that may be affecting behavior. By getting the words flowing, therapists can tap into unconscious conflicts, unresolved experiences or feelings that the person may not be fully conscious of. Often this approach is used to gain insight into the deeper layers of the mind, and to make connections between current difficulties and past experiences. Free association has also proved useful in demonstrating how thoughts are connected, providing insight into patterns of thought. Today it is not as commonly used as it was in Freud’s time, but it can still be found in modern psychotherapy by examining internal experiences and unconscious processes.