Substantial parts of Freud have stood up to further research - for example, the general presence of infantile sexuality.
To mention infantile sexuality is now commonplace, although far from being fully acceptable or comprehensible to many people.
Freud had recently written a book about the development of infantile sexuality, and he believed that what he learned from Herbert's situation backed up his theory.
Criticisms also have been leveled against the discovery of "infantile sexuality" (the recognition that children between ages two and six imagine things about procreation).
In the early days of psychoanalysis Freud's findings regarding the existence of infantile sexuality were hotly and indignantly denied.
Yet, of course, infantile sexuality is a reality, as no honest observer of children can deny.
The lesser repression of infantile sexuality has, as he feared, reduced the control of aggression.
He was especially interested in Freud's concepts of the Oedipus Complex, castration anxiety and infantile sexuality.
He explains this in his theory of infantile sexuality, and claims that sexual energy (libido) is the single most important motivating force in adult life.
Freud's work led him to establish the stages of psychosexual development where he describes infantile sexuality through steps.