I
IfinwhatfollowsIbringanycontributiontothehistoryofthepsychoanalyticmovementnobodymustbesurprisedatthesubjectivenatureofthispaper,norattherô;lewhichfallstometherein。Forpsychoanalysisismycreation;fortenyearsIwastheonlyoneoccupiedwithit,andalltheannoyancewhichthisnewsubjectcausedamongmycontemporarieshasbeenhurleduponmyheadintheformofcriticism。Eventoday,whenIamnolongertheonlypsychoanalyst,Ifeelmyselfjustifiedinassumingthatnonecanknowbetterthanmyselfwhatpsychoanalysisis,whereinitdiffersfromothermethodsofinvestigatingthepsychiclife,whatitsnameshouldcover,orwhatmightbetterbedesignatedassomethingelse。
Intheyear1909,whenIwasfirstprivilegedtospeakpubliclyonpsychoanalysisinanAmericanUniversity,firedbythismomentousoccasionformyendeavors,Ideclaredthatitwasnotmyselfwhobroughtpsychoanalysisintoexistence。
IsaidthatitwasJosefBreuer,whohadmeritedthishonoratatimewhenIwasastudentandbusyworkingformyexaminations(1880—1882)。[1]
Sincethen,well—intentionedfriendshavefrequentlyrepeatedthatIthenexpressedmygratitudeoutofalldueproportion。Theyconsideredthat,asonpreviousoccasions,IshouldhavedignifiedBreuer’s"catharticprocedure"
asmerelypreliminarytopsychoanalysis,andshouldhaveclaimedthatpsychoanalysisitselfonlybeganwithmyrejectionofthehypnotictechniqueandmyintroductionoffreeassociation。Nowitisreallyamatterofindifferencewhetherthehistoryofpsychoanalysisbeconsideredtohavestartedwiththecatharticmethodoronlywithmymodificationof[p。2]thesame。Ionlyenterintothisuninterestingquestionbecausesomeopponentsofpsychoanalysisarewonttorecall,nowandthen,thattheartofpsychoanalysisdidnotoriginatewithmeatall,butwithBreuer。Naturally,thisonlyhappenstobethecasewhentheirattitudepermitsthemtofindinpsychoanalysissomethingthatisnoteworthy;iontheotherhandwhentheirrepudiationofpsychoanalysisisunlimited,thenpsychoanalysisisalwaysindisputablymycreation。I
haveneveryetheardthatBreuer’sgreatpartinpsychoanalysishasbroughthimanequalmeasureofinsultandreproach。AsIhaverecognizedlongsincethatitistheinevitablefateofpsychoanalysistoarouseoppositionandtoembitterpeople,IhavecometotheconclusionthatImustsurelybetheoriginatorofallthatcharacterizespsychoanalysis。Iadd,withsatisfaction,thatnoneoftheattemptstobelittlemyshareinthismuchdisdainedpsychoanalysishasevercomefromBreuerhimself,orcouldboastofhissupport。
ThecontentofBreuer’sdiscoveryhasbeensooftenpresentedthatadetaileddiscussionofitheremaybeomitted。Itsfundamentalfactisthatthesymptomsofhystericalpatientsdependuponimpressivebutforgottenscenesintheirlives(traumata)。Thetherapyfoundedthereonwastocausethepatientstorecallandreproducetheseexperiencesunderhypnosis(catharsis),andthefragmentarytheory,deducedfromitwasthatthesesymptomscorrespondedtoanabnormaluseofundischargedsumsofexcitement(conversion)。Inhistheoreticalcontributiontothe"StudiesofHysteria"Breuer,whereverobligedtomentionconversion,hasalwaysaddedmynameinparenthesis,asthoughthisfirstattemptatatheoreticalformulationwasmymentalproperty。Ithinkthisallotmentrefersonlytothenomenclature,whilsttheconceptionitselfoccurredtousbothatthesametime。
ItisalsowellknownthatBreuer,afterhisfirstexperiencewithit,allowedthecathartictreatmenttorestforanumberofyearsandonlyresumeditafterIcausedhimtodoso,onmyreturnfromCharcot。Hewasthenaninternistandtakenupwitharatherbusymedicalpractice。Ihadbecomeaphysicianquitereluctantly[p。3]buthad,atthattime,receivedastrongmotivefordesiringtohelpnervouspatientsor,atleast,tolearntounderstandsomethingoftheirconditions。IhadplacedrelianceonphysicaltherapyandfoundmyselfhelplessinthefaceofdisappointmentsthatcametomewithW。Erb’s"Electrotherapy,"sorichinadviceandindications。
IfIdidnot,atthattime,pilotmyselfindependentlytotheopinionlaterannouncedbyMoebius,thatthesuccessesofelectrotherapyinnervousdisordersaretheresultsofsuggestion,itwassurelyonlytheabsenceofthesesuccessesthatwastoblame。Thetreatmentbysuggestionindeephypnosisseemedtooffermeatthattimesufficientcompensationforthelostelectricaltherapy。IlearnedthistreatmentthroughtheextremelyimpressivedemonstrationsofLié;baultandBernheim。ButtheinvestigationunderhypnosiswithwhichIbecameacquaintedthroughBreuer,Ifound,owingtoitsautomaticmannerofworkingandthesimultaneousgratificationofone’seagernessforknowledge,muchmoreattractivethanthemonotonousandviolentsuggestivecommandwhichwasdevoidofeverypossibilityofinquiry。
Asoneofthelatestachievementsofpsychoanalysis,wehavelatelybeenadmonishedtoputtheactualconflictandthecauseoftheillnessintotheforegroundofanalysis。ThisisexactlywhatBreuerandIdidinthebeginningofourworkwiththecatharticmethod。Weguidedthepatient’sattentiondirectlytothetraumaticsceneduringwhichthesymptomhadarisen,triedtofindthereinthepsychicconflictandtofreetherepressedaffect。WethusdiscoveredtheprocedurecharacteristicofthepsychicprocessesoftheneuroseswhichIlaternamedregression。Theassociationsofthepatientswentbackfromthescenetobeexplained,toearlierexperiences,andthisforcedtheanalysiswhichwastocorrectthepresenttooccupyitselfwiththepast。Thisregressionledevenfurtherbackwards:Atfirstitwentquiteregularlytothetimeofpuberty。Later,however,suchfailuresasgapsintheunderstandingtemptedtheanalyticworkfurtherbackintotheyearsofchildhoodwhich;had,hitherto,beeninaccessibletoeverysortofinvestigation。Thisregressivedirectionbecameanimportantcharacteristicofthe[p。4]analysis。Itwasprovedthatpsychoanalysiscouldnotclearupanythingactual,exceptbygoingbacktosomethinginthepast。Itevenprovedthateverypathologicalexperiencepresupposesanearlieronewhich,thoughnotinitselfpathological,lentapathologicalqualitytothelateroccurrence。ButthetemptationtostopshortattheknownactualcausewassogreatthateveninlateranalysesIyieldedtoit。Inthecaseofthepatientcalled"Dora,"carriedoutin1899,thescenewhichcausedtheoutbreakoftheactualillnesswasknowntome。Itrieduncountedtimestoanalysethisexperience,butallthatIcouldreceivetomydirectdemandswasthesamescantyandbrokendescription。Onlyafteralongdetour,whichledthroughtheearliestchildhoodofthepatient,adreamappearedintheanalysisofwhichthehithertoforgottendetailsofthescenewereremembered,andthismadepossibletheunderstandingandsolutionoftheactualconflict。Fromthisoneexampleitmaybeseenhowmisleadingistheabovementionedadmonitionandhowmuchofascientificregressionitistofollowtheadviceofneglectingtheregressionintheanalytictechnique。
ThefirstdifferenceofopinionbetweenBreuerandmyselfcametolightonaquestionofthemoreintimatepsychicmechanismofhysteria。Hestillfavoredaphysiologicaltheory,sotospeak,andwishedtoexplainthepsychicsplittingofconsciousnessofhystericalsubjectsbymeansofthenon—communicationofvariouspsychicstates(orstatesofconsciousness,aswethencalledthem)。Hethuscreatedthetheoryofthe"hypnoidstates,"
theresultsofwhichweresupposedtobringtheunassimilatedforeignbodyintothe"wakingconsciousness。"Ihadformulatedthistomyselflessscientifically。
Isuspectedeverywheretendenciesandstrivingsanalogoustothoseofeverydaylifeandconceivedthepsychicsplittingitselfasaresultofarepellingprocess,whichIthencalled"defense"andlater"regression。"Imadeashort—livedattempttoreconcilebothmechanisms,butasexperienceshowedmealwaysthesameandonlyonething,mydefensetheory,IsoonbecameopposedtoBreuer’stheoryofhypnoidstates。[p。5]
Iam,however,quitecertainthatthisdifferenceofopinionhadnothingtodowiththepartingofthewayswhichoccurredsoonafterwardbetweenus。Thelatterhadadeeperreason,butithappenedinsuchamannerthatatfirstIdidnotunderstandit,andonlylaterdidIlearntointerpretit,followingmanygoodindexes。ItwillberecalledthatBreuerhadstated,concerninghisfirstfamouspatient,thatthesexualelementhadbeenastonishinglyundevelopedinherandhadnevercontributedanythingtoherverymarkedmorbidpicture。[2]IhavealwayswonderedwhythecriticsofmytheoryofthesexualetiologyoftheneuroseshavenotoftenopposeditwiththisassertionofBreuer,anduptothisdayIdonotknowwhetherinthisreticenceIamtoseeaproofoftheirdiscretion,oroftheirlackofobservation。WhoeverwillrereadthehistoryofBreuer’spatientinthelightoftheexperiencegainedinthelasttwentyyears,willhavenodifficultyinunderstandingthesymbolismofthesnakesandofthearm。
Bytakingintoaccountalsothesituationatthesick—bedofthefather,hewilleasilyguesstheactualmeaningofthatsymptom—formation,Hisopinionastothepartsexualityplayedinthepsychiclifeofthatgirlwillthendiffergreatlyfromthatofherphysician。TocurethepatientBreuerutilizedthemostintensivesuggestiverapportwhichmayserveusasprototypeofthatwhichwecall"transference。"NowIhavestronggroundstosupposethatBreuer,afterthedisposalofthesymptoms,musthavediscoveredthesexualmotivityofthistransferencebynewsigns,butthatthegeneralnatureofthisunexpectedphenomenonescapedhim,sothathere,asthoughhitby"anuntowardevent,"hebrokeofftheinvestigation。Ididnotobtainfromhimanydirectinformationofthis,butatdifferenttimeshehasgivenmesufficientconnectinglinkstojustifymeinmakingthiscombination。
Andthen,asIstoodmoreandmoredecidedlyforthesignificanceofsexualityinthecausationoftheneuroses,Breuerwasthefirsttoshowmethosereactionsofunwillingrejection,withwhichitwasmylottobecomesofamiliarlateron,butwhichIhadthennotyetrecognizedasmyunavoidabledestiny。[p。6]
Thefactthatagrosslysexual,tenderorinimical,transferenceoccursineverytreatmentofaneurosis,althoughthiswasneitherdesirednorinducedbyeitherparty,has,forme,alwaysseemedtobethemostunshakableproofthattheforcesoftheneurosesoriginateinthesexuallife。Thisargumenthassurelynotbeenseriouslyenoughconsidered,forifitwere,therewouldbenoquestionastowheretheinvestigationwouldtend。Formyownconviction,ithasremaineddecisiveoverandabovethespecialresultsoftheworkoftheanalysis。
Somecomfortforthebadreceptionwhichmytheoryofthesexualetiologyoftheneurosesmetwith,evenintheclosercircleofmyfriends——anegativespacewassoonformedaboutmyperson——IfoundinthethoughtthatI
hadtakenupthefightforanewandoriginalidea。Oneday,however,mymemoriesgroupedthemselvesinsuchawaythatthissatisfactionwasdisturbed,butinreturnIobtainedanexcellentinsightintotheoriginofouractivitiesandintothenatureofourknowledge。TheideaforwhichIwasheldresponsiblehadnotatalloriginatedwithme。Ithadcometomefromthreepersons,whoseopinionscouldcountuponmydeepestrespect;fromBreuerhimself,fromCharcot,andfromChrobak,thegynecologistofouruniversity,probablythemostprominentofourViennaphysicians。Allthreemenhadimpartedtomeaninsightwhich,strictlyspeaking,theyhadnotthemselvespossessed。
TwoofthemdeniedtheircommunicationtomewhenlaterIremindedthemofthis:thethird(MasterCharcot)mightalsohavedoneso,haditbeengrantedmetoseehimagain。Buttheseidenticalcommunications,receivedwithoutmygraspingthem,hadlaindormantwithinme,untilonedaytheyawokeasanapparentlyoriginaldiscovery。
Oneday,whileIwasayounghospitaldoctor,IwasaccompanyingBreueronawalkthroughthetownwhenamancameuptohimurgentlydesiringtospeakwithhim。Ifellbackand,whenBreuerwasfreeagain,hetoldme,inhiskindly,teacher—likemanner,thatthiswasthehusbandofapatient,whohadbroughthimsomenewsabouther。Thewife,headded,behavedinsoconspicuousamanner[p。7]whenincompany,thatshehadbeenturnedovertohimfortreatmentasanervouscase。Heendedwiththeremark——
"thosearealwayssecretsofthealcove。"Astonished,Iaskedhismeaningandheexplainedtheexpressiontome("secretsoftheconjugalbed"),withoutrealizinghowpreposterousthematterappearedtome。
Afewyearslater,atoneofCharcot’seveningreceptions,IfoundmyselfneartheveneratedteacherwhowasjustrelatingtoBrouardelaveryinterestinghistoryfromtheday’spractice。Ididnothearthebeginningclearlybutgraduallythestoryobtainedmyattention。ItwasthecaseofayoungmarriedcouplefromthefarEast。Thewifewasagreatsuffererandthehusbandwasimpotent,orexceedinglyawkward。IheardCharcotrepeat:"Tâ;chezdonc,jevousassurevousyarriverez。"Brouardel,whospokelessdistinctly,musthaveexpressedhisastonishmentthatsymptomsasthoseoftheyoungwifeshouldhaveappearedasaresultofsuchcircumstances,forCharcotsaidsuddenlyandwithgreatvivacity:"Mais,dansdescaspareilsc’esttoujourslachosegé;nital,toujours——toujours——toujours。"Andwhilesayingthathecrossedhishandsinhislapandjumpedupanddownseveraltimes,withthevivacitypeculiartohim。IknowthatforamomentIwasalmostparalyzedwithastonishment,andIsaidtomyself:"Yes,butifheknowsthiswhydoesheneversayso"Buttheimpressionwassoonforgotten;brain—anatomyandtheexperimentalproductionofhystericalparalysisabsorbedallmyinterests。
AyearlaterwhenIhadbegunmymedicalactivitiesinViennaasaprivatedozentinnervousdiseasesIwasasinnocentandignorantinallthatconcernedtheetiologyoftheneurosesasanypromisingacademiciancouldbeexpectedtobe。OnedayIreceivedafriendlycallfromChrobak,whoaskedmetotakeapatienttowhomhecouldnotgivesufficienttimeinhisnewcapacityaslecturerattheuniversity。Ireachedthepatientbeforehedidandlearnedthatshesufferedfromsenselessattacksofanxiety,whichcouldonlybealleviatedbythemostexactinformationastothewhereaboutsofherphysicianatanytimeintheday。WhenChrobak[p。8]
appeared,hetookmeasideanddisclosedtomethatthepatient’sanxietywasduetothefactthatthoughshehadbeenmarriedeighteenyears,shewasstillavirgointacta,thatherhusbandwasutterlyimpotent。
Insuchcasesthephysiciancanonlycoverthedomesticmishapwithhisreputationandmustbearitifpeopleshrugtheirshouldersandsayofhim:"Heisnotagooddoctorifinalltheseyears,hehasnotbeenabletocureher。"Headded:"Theonlyprescriptionforsuchtroublesistheonewell—knowntous,butwhichwecannotprescribe。Itis:PenisnormalisdosimRepetatur!Ihadneverheardofsuchaprescriptionandwouldliketohaveshakenmyheadatmyinformant’scynicism。
IcertainlyhavenotuncoveredtheillustriousoriginsofthisviciousideabecauseIwouldliketoshovetheresponsibilityforitonothers。
Iknowwellthatitisonethingtoexpressanideaonceorseveraltimesintheformofarapidaperç;u,andquiteanothertotakeitseriouslyandliterallytoleaditthroughallopposingdetailsandconquerforitaplaceamongacceptedtruths。Itisthedifferencebetweenalightflirtationandarighteousmarriagewithallitsdutiesanddifficulties。
Epouserlesidé;esde——(tomarrysoandso’sideas,)is,atleastinFrench,aquiteusualformofspeech。
Otherdoctrineswhichwerecontributedtothecatharticmethodthroughmyeffortsthustransformingitintopsychoanalysis,arethefollowing:
Thetheoriesofrepressionandresistance,theadditionoftheinfantilesexuality,andtheusageandinterpretationofdreamsfortheunderstandingoftheunconscious。
Concerningthetheoryofrepression,IwascertainthatIworkedindependently。
Iknewofnoinfluencethatdirectedmeinanywaytoit,andIlongconsideredthisideatobeoriginal,tillO。RankshowedustheplaceinSchopenhauer’s"TheWorldasWillandIdea,"wherethephilosopherisstrugglingforanexplanationforinsanity。[3][p。9]Whatistheresaidconcerningthestrivingagainsttheacceptanceofapainfulpieceofrealityagreessocompletelywiththecontentofmytheoryofrepressionthat,onceagain,Imustbeindebtedtomynotbeingwell—readforthepossibilityofmakingadiscovery。Tobesure,othershavereadthispassageandoverlookedit,withoutmakingthisdiscoveryandperhapsthesamewouldhavehappenedtome,if,informeryears,Ihadtakenmorepleasureinreadingphilosophicalauthors。InlateryearsIdeniedmyselfthegreatpleasureofNietzsche’sworks,withtheconsciousmotiveofnotwishingtobehinderedintheworkingoutofmypsychoanalyticimpressionsbyanypreconceivedideas。Therefore,Ihadtoheprepared——andamsogladly——torenounceallclaimtopriorityinthosemanycasesinwhichthelaboriouspsychoanalyticinvestigationcanonlyconfirmtheinsightsintuitivelywonbythephilosophers。
Thetheoryofrepressionisthemainpillaruponwhichreststheedificeofpsychoanalysis。Itisreallythemostessentialpartofit,andisitselfnothingotherthanthetheoreticalexpressionofanexperiencewhichcanberepeatedatpleasurewheneveroneanalyzesaneuroticpatientwithouttheaidofhypnosis。Oneisthenconfrontedwitharesistancewhichopposestheanalyticworkbycausingafailureofmemoryinordertoblockit。
Thisresistancehadtobecoveredbytheuseofhypnosis;hencethehistoryofpsychoanalysisproperonlystartstechnicallywiththerejectionofhypnosis。Thetheoreticalvalueofthefactthatthisresistanceisconnectedwithanamnesialeadsunavoidablytothatconceptionoftheunconsciouspsychicactivitieswhichispeculiartopsychoanalysis,anddistinguishesitmarkedlyfromthephilosophicalspeculationsabouttheunconscious。
Itmay,therefore,besaidthatthepsychoanalytictheoryendeavorstoexplaintwoexperiences,whichresultinastrikingandunexpectedmannerduringtheattempttotracebackthemorbidsymptomsofaneurotictotheirsourceinhislife—history;viz。,thefactsoftransferenceandofresistance。
Everyinvestigationwhichrecognizesthesetwofactsandmakesthemthestartingpointsofitsworkmaycallitselfpsychoanalysis,evenifitleadto[p。10]otherresultsthanmyown。Butwhoevertakesupothersidesoftheproblemanddeviatesfromthesetwoassumptionswillhardlyescapethechargeofinterferingwiththerightsofownershipthroughattemptedimitation,ifheinsistuponcallinghimselfapsychoanalyst。
Iwouldveryenergeticallyopposeanyattempttocounttheprinciplesofrepressionandresistanceasmereassumptionsinsteadofresultsofpsychoanalysis。Suchassumptionsofageneralpsychologicalandbiologicalnatureexist,anditwouldbequitetothepointtodealwiththeminanotherplace。Theprincipleofrepression,however,isanacquisitionofthepsychoanalyticwork,wonbylegitimatemeans,asatheoreticalextractfromverynumerousexperiences。Justsuchanacquisition,butofmuchlaterdays,isthetheoryoftheinfantilesexuality,ofwhichnocountwastakenduringthefirstyearsoftentativeanalyticinvestigation。Atfirstitwasonlynoticedthattheeffectofactualimpressionshadtobetracedbacktothepast。
However,"theseekeroftenfoundmorethanhebargainedfor。"Hewastemptedalwaysfurtherbackintothispastandfinallyhopedtobepermittedtotarryintheperiodofpuberty,theepochofthetraditionalawakeningofthesexualimpulses。Hishopeswereinvain。Thetracksledstillfurtherbackintochildhoodandintoitsearliestyears。Intheprocessofthisworkitbecamealmostfatalforthisyoungscience。Undertheinfluenceofthetraumatictheoryofhysteria,followingCharcot,onewaseasilyinclinedtoregardasrealandasofetiologicalimportancetheaccountsofpatientswhotracedbacktheirsymptomstopassivesexualoccurrencesinthefirstyearsofchildhood,thatistosay,speakingplainly,toseductions。
Whenthisetiologybrokedownthroughitsownunlikelihood,andthroughthecontradictionofwell—establishedcircumstances,therefollowedaperiodofabsolutehelplessness。Theanalysishadledbythecorrectpathtosuchinfantilesexualtraumas,andyetthesewerenottrue。Thusthebasisofrealityhadbeenlost。AtthattimeIwouldgladlyhaveletthewholethingslide,asdidmyrespectedforerunnerBreuer,whenhemadehisunwished—fordiscovery。PerhapsIperseveredonlybecauseIhadnolongeranychoiceofbeginningsomethingelse。FinallyIreflectedthat,after[p。11]all,noonehasarighttodespairifhehasbeendisappointedonlyinhisexpectations。
Hemerelyneedstoreviewthem。Ifhystericsrefertheirsymptomstoimaginarytraumas,thenthisnewfactsignifiesthattheycreatesuchscenesintheirphantasies,andhencepsychicrealitydeservestobegivenaplacenexttoactualreality。Thiswassoonfollowedbytheconvictionthatthesephantasiesservetohidetheautoeroticactivitiesoftheearlyyearsofchildhood,toidealizethemandplacethemonahigherlevel,andnowthewholesexuallifeofthechildmadeitsappearancebehindthesephantasies。
Inthissexualactivityofthefirstyearsofchildhood,theconcomitantconstitutioncouldfinallyattainitsrights。Dispositionandexperienceherebecameassociatedintoaninseparableetiologicalunity,inthatthedispositionraisedcertainimpressionstoincitingandfixedtraumas,whichotherwisewouldhaveremainedaltogetherbanalandineffectual,whilsttheexperiencesevokedfactorsfromthedispositionwhich,withoutthem,wouldhavecontinuedtoremaindormant,and,perhaps,undeveloped。ThelastwordinthequestionoftraumaticetiologywaslateronsaidbyAbraham,whenhedrewattentiontothefactthatjustthepeculiarnatureofthechild’ssexualconstitutionenablesittoprovokesexualexperiencesofapeculiarkind,thatistosay,traumas。
Myformulationsconcerningthesexualityofthechildwerefoundedatfirstalmostexclusivelyontheresultsoftheanalysesofadults,whichledbackintothepast。Iwaslackinginopportunityfordirectobservationofthechild。Itwas,therefore,anextraordinarytriumphwhen,yearslater,mydiscoveriesweresuccessfullyconfirmedforthegreaterpartbydirectobservationandanalysesofchildrenofveryearlyyears,atriumphthatappearedlessandlessonreflectingthatthediscoverywasofsuchanaturethatonereallyoughttobeashamedofhavingmadeit。Thedeeperonepenetratedintotheobservationofthechild,themoreself—evidentthisfactseemed,andthemorestrange,too,becamethecircumstancesthatsuchpainshadbeentakentooverlookit。
Tobesure,socertainaconvictionoftheexistenceandsignificance[p。12]oftheinfantilesexualitycanbeobtainedonly,ifonefollowsthepathofanalysis,ifonegoesbackfromthesymptomsandpeculiaritiesofneuroticstotheiruttermostsources,thediscoveryofwhichexplainswhatisexplainableinthem,andpermitsofmodifyingwhatcanbechanged。
Iunderstandthatonecanarriveatdifferentconclusionsif,aswasrecentlydonebyC。G。Jung,onefirstformsforone’sselfatheoreticalconceptionofthenatureofthesexualimpulseandtherebytriestounderstandthelifeofthechild。Suchaconceptioncanonlybechosenarbitrarilyorwithregardtosecondaryconsiderations,andisindangerofbecominginadequatetothesphereinwhichitwastobeutilized。Doubtless,theanalyticwayalsoleadstocertainfinaldifficultiesandobscuritiesinregardtosexualityanditsrelationtothewholelifeoftheindividual;butthesecannotbesetasidebyspeculations,andmustwaittillsolutionswillbefoundbymeansofotherobservationsorofobservationsinotherspheres。
Ishallbrieflydiscussthehistoryofdream—interpretation。Thiscametomeasthefirst—fruitsofthetechnicalinnovation,after,followingadimpresentiment,Ihaddecidedtoreplacehypnosiswithfreeassociations。
Itwasnottheunderstandingofdreamstowardswhichmycuriositywasoriginallydirected。Idonotknowofanyinfluenceswhichhadguidedmyinteresttothisorinspiredmewithanyhelpfulexpectations。BeforethecessationofmyintercoursewithBreuerIhardlyhadtimetotellhim,insomanywords,thatInowknewhowtotranslatedreams。Duringthedevelopmentofthesediscoveriesthesymbolismofthelanguageofdreamswasaboutthelastthingwhichbecameknowntome,since,fortheunderstandingofsymbols,theassociationsofthedreamerofferbutlittlehelp。AsIhaveheldfasttothehabitoffirststudyingthingsthemselves,beforelookingthemupinbooks,IwasabletoascertainformyselfthesymbolismofdreamsbeforeIwasdirectedtoitbytheworkofSherner。OnlylaterIcametovaluefullythismeansofexpressionofdreams。ThiswaspartlyduetotheinfluenceoftheworksofSteckel,whowasatfirstverymeritoriousbutwholaterbecamemostperfunctory。Thecloseconnectionbetweenthepsychoanalytic[p。13]interpretationofdreamsandtheoncesohighlyesteemedartofdreaminterpretationoftheancientsonlybecamecleartomemanyyearsafterwards。Themostcharacteristicandsignificantportionofmydreamtheory,namely,thereductionofthedreamdistortiontoaninnerconflict,toasortofinnerdishonesty,Ifoundlaterinanauthortowhommedicinebutnotphilosophyisunknown。IrefertotheengineerJ。Popper,whohadpublished"PhantasiesofaRealist"underthenameofLynkeus。
Theinterpretationofdreamsbecameformeasolaceandsupportinthosedifficultfirstyearsofanalysis,whenIhadtomasteratthesametimethetechnique,theclinicandthetherapyoftheneuroses,whenIstoodentirelyalone,andintheconfusionofproblemsandtheaccumulationofdifficultiesIoftenfearedtolosemyorientationandmyconfidence。Itoftentookalongtimebeforetheproofofmyassumption,thataneurosismustbecomecomprehensiblethroughanalysis,wasseenbytheperplexedpatient,butthedreams,whichmightberegardedasanalogoustothesymptoms,almostregularlyconfirmedthisassumption。
OnlybecauseofthesesuccesseswasIinconditiontopersevere。Ihave,therefore,acquiredthehabitofmeasuringthegraspofapsychologicalworkerbyhisattitudetotheproblemofdreaminterpretation,andIhavenoticed,withsatisfaction,thatmostoftheopponentsofpsychoanalysisavoidedthisfieldaltogether,oriftheyventuredintoit,theybehavedmostawkwardly。Theanalysisofmyself,theneedofwhichsoonbecameapparenttome,Icarriedoutbytheaidofaseriesofmyowndreamswhichledmethroughallthehappeningsofmychildhoodyears。EventodayIamoftheopinionthatinthecaseofaprolificdreamerandapersonnottooabnormal,thissortofanalysismaybesufficient。
Byunfurlingthisdevelopmentalhistory,IbelieveIhaveshownwhatpsychoanalysisis,betterthanIcouldhavedonebyasystematicpresentationofthesubject。ThespecialnatureofmyfindingsIdidnotthenrecognize。
Isacrificed,unhesitatingly,mybuddingpopularityasaphysicianandanextensivepracticeamongnervouspatients,becauseIsearcheddirectlyforthesexualoriginoftheir[p。14]neuroses。InthiswayIgainedanumberofexperienceswhichdefinitelyconfirmedmyconvictionofthepracticalsignificanceofthesexualfactor。Withoutanyapprehension,IappearedasspeakerattheViennaNeurologicalSociety,thenunderthepresidencyofKrafft—Ebing,expectingtobecompensated,bytheinterestandrecognitionofmycolleagues,formyownvoluntarysacrifices。Itreatedmydiscoveriesasindifferentcontributionstoscienceandhopedthatotherswouldtreattheminthesameway。Onlythesilencethatfollowedmylectures,thespacethatformedaboutmyperson,andtheinsinuationsdirectedtowardsmecausedmetorealize,gradually,thatstatementsaboutthepartplayedbysexualityintheetiologyoftheneurosescannothopetobetreatedlikeothercommunications。
IrealizedthatfromthenonIwouldbelongtothosewho,accordingtoHebbel’sexpression,"havedisturbedtheworld’ssleep,"andthatIcouldnotcountuponbeingtreatedobjectivelyandwithtoleration。Butasmyconvictionoftheaveragecorrectnessofmyobservationsandtheconclusionsgrewgreaterandgreater,andasmyfaithinmyownjudgmentwasnotsmall,anymorethanwasmymoralcourage,therecouldbenodoubtastotheissueofthissituation。Idecidedtobelievethatitfelltomylottodiscoverparticularlysignificantassociations,andfeltpreparedtobearthefatewhichsometimesaccompaniessuchdiscoveries。
ThisfateIpicturedtomyselfinthefollowingmanner。Iwouldprobablysucceedinsustainingmyselfthroughthetherapeuticsuccessesofthenewtreatment,butsciencewouldtakenonoticeofmeinmylifetime。Somedecadeslater,anotherwouldsurelystumbleuponthesame,nowuntimelythings,compeltheirrecognitionandthusbringmetohonorasanecessarilyunfortunateforerunner。MeantimeIarrayedmyselfascomfortablyaspossibleà;laRobinsonCrusoeuponmylonelyisland。WhenIlookbacktothoselonelyyears,fromtheperplexitiesandvexatiousnessofthepresent,itseemstomeitwasabeautifulandheroictime。The"splendidisolation"
didnotlackitsprivilegesandcharms。Ididnotneedtoreadanyliteraturenortolistentobadlyinformedopponents。Iwassubjecttonoinfluences,andnopressurewasbroughttobear[p。15]onme。Ilearnedtorestrainspeculativetendenciesand,followingtheunforgottenadviceofmymaster,Charcot,Ilookedatthesamethingsagainandoftenuntiltheybeganofthemselvestotellmesomething。Mypublications,forwhichIfoundshelterdespitesomedifficulty,couldsafelyremainfarbehindmystateofknowledge。
TheycouldbedelayedaslongasIpleased,astherewasnodoubtful"priority"
tobedefended。"TheInterpretationofDreams,"forexample,wascompletedinallessentialsinthebeginningof1896,butwaswrittendownonlyin1899。Thetreatmentof"Dora"wasfinishedattheendof1899。Thehistoryofherillnesswascompletedinthenexttwoweeks,butwasonlypublishedin1905。Meantimemywritingswerenotinthereviewedprofessionalliteratureoftheday。Ifanexceptionwasmadetheywerealwaystreatedwithscornfulorpityingcondescension。Sometimesacolleaguewouldrefertomeinoneofhispublicationsinveryshortandunflatteringterms,suchas"unbalanced,"
"extreme,"or"veryodd。"IthappenedoncethatanassistantattheclinicinViennaaskedmeforpermissiontoattendoneofmylecturecourses。
Helisteneddevoutlyandsaidnothing,butafterthelastlectureheofferedtoaccompanyme。Duringthiswalkhedisclosedtomethat,withtheknowledgeofhischief,hehadwrittenabookagainstmyteachings,butheexpressedmuchregretthathehadonlycometoknowtheseteachingsbetterthroughmylectures。Hadheknownthesebefore,hewouldhavewrittenverydifferently。
Indeed,hehadinquiredattheclinicifhehadnotbetterfirstread"TheInterpretationofDreams,"buthadbeenadvisedagainstdoingso,asitwasnotworththetrouble。Ashenowunderstoodit,hecomparedmysystemofinstructionwiththeCatholicChurch。Intheinterestsofhissoul’ssalvationIwillassumethatthisremarkcontainedabitofsincererecognition。
Butheendedbysayingthatitwastoolatetoalteranythinginhisbookasitwasalreadyprinted。Thisparticularcolleaguedidnotconsideritnecessarylaterontotelltheworldsomethingofthechangeinhisopinionsconcerningmypsychoanalysis。Onthecontrary,aspermanentreviewerofamedicaljournal,heshowedapreferencetofollowitsdevelopmentwithhishardlyseriouscomments。[p。16]
WhateverIpossessedofpersonalsensitivenesswasbluntedthoseyears,tomyadvantage。ButIwassavedfrombecomingembitteredbyacircumstancethatdoesnotcometotheassistanceofalllonelydiscoverers。Suchaoneusuallyfretshimselftofindoutthecauseofthelackofsympathyoroftherejectionhereceivesfromhiscontemporaries,andperceivesthemasapainfulcontradictionagainstthecertaintyofhisownconviction。
Thatdidnottroubleme,forthepsychoanalyticfundamentalprinciplesenabledmetounderstandthisattitudeofmyenvironmentasanecessarysequence。Ifitwastruethattheassociationsdiscoveredbymewerekeptfromtheknowledgeofthepatientbyinneraffectiveresistances,thenthisresistancemustmanifestitselfalsoinnormalpersonsassoonastherepressedmaterialisconveyedtothemfromtheoutside。Itwasnotstrangethattheselatterknewhowtogiveintellectualreasonsfortheiraffectiverejectionsofmyideas。Thishappenedjustasoftenwiththepatients,andtheargumentsadvanced——argumentsareascommonasblackberries,toborrowfromFalstaff’sspeech——werethesameandnotexactlybrilliant。
Theonlydifferencewasthatinthecaseofpatientsonehadthemeansofbringingpressuretobear,inordertohelpthemrecognizeandovercometheirresistances,butinthecaseofthoseseeminglynormal,suchhelphadtobeomitted。Toforcethesenormalpeopletoacoolandscientificallyobjectiveexaminationofthesubjectwasanunsolvedproblem,thesolutionofwhichwasbestlefttotime。Inthehistoryofscienceithasoftenbeenpossibletoverifythattheveryassertionwhich,atfirst,calledforthonlyopposition,receivedrecognitionalittlelaterwithoutnecessityofbringingforwardanynewproofs。
ThatIhavenotdevelopedanyparticularrespectfortheopinionoftheworldoranydesireforintellectualdeferenceduringthoseyears,whenIalonerepresentedpsychoanalysis,willsurprisenoone。[p。17]II
Beginningwiththeyear1902anumberofyoungdoctorscrowdedaboutmewiththeexpressedintentiontolearnpsychoanalysis,topracticeitandtospreadit。Theimpetusforthiscamefromacolleaguewhohadhimselfexperiencedthebeneficialeffectsoftheanalytictherapy。Wemetoncertaineveningsatmyresidence,anddiscussedsubjectsaccordingtocertainrules。
Thevisitorsendeavoredtoorientthemselvesinthisstrangeandnewrealmofinvestigation,andtointerestothersinthematter。OnedayayounggraduateIofthetechnicalschoolfoundadmissiontoourcirclebymeansofamanuscriptwhichshowedextraordinarysense。Weinducedhimtogothroughcollegeandentertheuniversity,andthendevotehimselftothenon—medicalapplicationofpsychoanalysis。Thusthelittlesocietygainedazealousandreliablesecretary,andIacquiredinOttoRankamostfaithfulhelperandcollaborator。
Soonthelittlecircleexpanded,andinthecourseofthenextfewyearschangedagooddealinitscomposition。Onthewhole,Icouldflattermyselfthatinthewealthandvarietyoftalentourcirclewashardlyinferiortothestaffofanyclinicalteacher。Fromtheverybeginningitincludedthosemenwholaterweretoplayaconsiderable,ifnotalwaysadelectable,partinthehistoryofthepsychoanalyticmovement。Butthesedevelopmentscouldnothavebeenguessedatthattime。Iwassatisfied,andIbelieveIdidallIcould,toconveytotheotherswhatIknewandhadexperienced。
Therewereonlytwoinauspiciouscircumstanceswhichatleastmentallyestrangedmefromthiscircle。Icouldnotsucceedinestablishingamongthemembersthatfriendlyrelationwhichshouldobtainamongmendoingthesamedifficultwork,norcouldIcrushoutthequarrelsaboutthepriorityofdiscoveries,forwhichtherewereampleopportunitiesinthoseconditionsofworkingtogether。Thedifficultiesofteachingthepractiseofpsychoanalysis,whichareparticularlygreat,andareoftentoblameforthepresentrejectionofpsychoanalysis,[p。18]alreadymadethemselvesfeltinthisVienneseprivatepsychoanalyticsociety。Imyselfdidnotdaretopresentanasyetincompletetechnique,andatheorystillinthemaking,withthatauthoritywhichmighthavesparedtheothersmanyablindalleyandmanyafinaltrippingup。Theself—dependenceofmentalworkers,theirearlyindependenceoftheteacher,isalwaysgratifyingpsychologically,butitcanonlyresultinascientificgainwhenduringtheselaborscertain,nottoofre9uentlyoccurring,personalrelationsarealsofulfilled。Psychoanalysisparticularlyshouldhaverequiredalongandseveredisciplineandtrainingofself—control。
Onaccountofthecouragedisplayedindevotiontosoridiculedandfruitlessasubject,IwasinclinedtotolerateamongthemembersmuchtowhichotherwiseIwouldhaveobjected。Besides,thecircleincludednotonlyphysicians,butotherculturedmenwhohadrecognizedsomethingsignificantinpsychoanalysis。
Therewereauthors,artists,andsoforth。The"InterpretationOfDreams,"
thebookon"Wit,"andotherwritings,hadalreadyshownthattheprinciplesofpsychoanalysiscannotremainlimitedtothemedicalfield,butarecapableofapplicationtovariousothermentalsciences。
In1907thesituationsuddenlyalteredandquitecontrarytoallexpectations;
itbecameevidentthatpsychoanalysishadunobtrusivelyawakenedsomeinterestandgainedsomefriends,thattherewereevensomescientificworkerswhowerepreparedtoadmittheirallegiance。AcommunicationfromBleulerhadalreadyacquaintedmewiththefactthatmyworkswerestudiedandappliedinBurghö;lzli。[4]InJanuary,1907,thefirstmanattachedtotheZü;richClinic,Dr。Eitingon,visitedmeatVienna。
Othervisitorssoonfollowed,thuscausingalivelyexchangeofideas。
Finally,byinvitationofC。G。Jung,thenstillanassistantphysicianatBurghö;lzli,thefirstmeetingtookplaceatSalzburg,inthespringof1908,wherethefriendsofpsychoanalysisfromVienna,Zü;rich,andotherplacesmettogether。Theresultofthisfirstpsychoanalyticcongress,wasthefoundingofaperiodical,whichbegantoappearin1909,underthenameof"Jahrbuchfü;rPsychoanalytischeundPsychopathologische[p。19]Forschungen,"publishedbyBleulerandFreud,andeditedbyJung。
AnintimatecomradeshipintheworkdoneatViennaandZü;richfounditsexpressioninthispublication。
IhaverepeatedlyandgratefullyacknowledgedtheeffortsoftheZü;richPsychiatricSchoolinthespreadingofpsychoanalysis,especiallythoseofBleulerandJung,andIdonothesitatetodothesametoday,evenundersuchchangedcircumstances。ItwascertainlynotthepartisanshipoftheZü;richSchoolwhichatthattimefirstdirectedtheattentionofthescientificworldtothesubjectofpsychoanalysis。Thislatencyperiodhadjustcometoanend,andpsychoanalysiseverywherebecametheobjectofconstantlyincreasinginterest。Butwhilstinalltheotherplacesthismanifestationofinterestresultedfirstinnothingbutaviolentandemphaticrepudiationofthesubject,inZü;rich,onthecontrary,themainfeelingofthesituationwasthatofagreement。Innootherplacewassocompactalittlegatheringofadherentstobefound,nowherealsowasitpossibletoplaceapublicclinicattheserviceofpsychoanalyticinvestigation,ortofindaclinicalteacherwhoregardedtheprinciplesofpsychoanalysisasanintegralpartoftheteachingofpsychiatry。TheZü;richdoctorsbecame,asitwere,thenucleusofthelittlebandwhichwasfightingfortherecognitionofpsychoanalysis。OnlyinZü;richwasthereapossibleopportunitytolearnthenewartandtoapplyitinpractice。Mostofmypresent—dayfollowersandco—workerscametomeviaZü;rich,eventhosewhomighthavefound,geographicallyspeaking,ashorterroadtoViennathantoSwitzerland。ViennaliesinaneccentricpositionfromwesternEurope,whichhousesthegreatcentersofourculture。Formanyyearsithasbeenmuchaffectedbyweightyprejudices。TherepresentativesofthemostprominentnationsstreamintoSwitzerland,whichissomentallyactive,andaninfectivelesioninthisplacewassuretobecomeveryimportantforthedisseminationofthe"psychicepidemic,"asHocheofFreiburgcalledit。
AccordingtothetestimonyofacolleaguewhowasaneyewitnessofthedevelopmentsatBurghö;lzli,itmaybeassertedthatpsychoanalysisawakenedaninterestthereveryearly。AlreadyinJung’s[p。20]workonoccultphenomena,publishedin1902,therewasanallusiontodream—interpretation。
Eversince1903or1904accordingtomyinformer,psychoanalysiscameintoprominence。AftertheestablishmentofpersonalrelationsbetweenViennaandZü;rich,asocietywasalsofoundedinBurghö;lzliin1907
whichdiscussedtheproblemsofpsychoanalysisatregularmeetings。InthebondthatunitedtheViennaandZü;richschools,theSwisswerebynomeansthemerelyrecipientpart。Theyhadthemselvesalreadyperformedrespectablescientificwork,theresultsofwhichwereofmuchusetopsychoanalysis。
Theassociation—experiment,startedbytheWundtSchool,hadbeeninterpretedbytheminthepsychoanalyticsenseandhadproveditselfofunexpectedusefulness。Thusithadbecomepossibletogetrapidexperimentalconfirmationofpsychoanalyticfacts,andtodemonstrateexperimentallytobeginnerscertainrelationshipswhichtheanalystcouldonlyhavetalkedaboutotherwise。
Thefirstbridgeleadingfromexperimentalpsychologytopsychoanalysishadthusbeenconstructed。