To better understand Freire’s positions on social structures and the roles of teacher and student, it is important to understand his background in philosophical studies and psychology. 

When he was 22 years old, Freire enrolled in the law school at University of Recife in Brazil, but his primary focus was in phenomenology which is the philosophical and structural study of the nature of consciousness (Diaz). His philosophical influences were existentialists like Buber and Sartre, and humanists like Marcuse, and Schaff. He was also greatly influenced by Erich Fromm’s work in psycho-analytical theory (Blackburn 13).

Phenomenology is the study of how a person thinks about themselves and who they are. This, combined with Freire's studies in the psychology of language and how individuals develop language skills, influenced his views on the interconnectedness of one’s social situation. Freire determined that awareness of one's situational placement, both conscious and subconscious impacted their beliefs about who they are, what they are capable of, and how they express that through language. Freire connected that what a person thinks about themselves, directly impacts and reflects the way they communicate through language.

Through his education and experiences, Freire also realized that by analyzing how people think and write about themselves, one can then determine the best methods for teaching them new skills , and helping them grow beyond their social and economic situations. His studies in these areas, combined with his own personal experiences likely also led to his strong beliefs on one's own self-image and how that impacts the power dynamics of the interplay between teacher and student.