Selected papers on hysteria and other psychoneurosesFreud, Sigmund
Science
Selected papers on hysteria and other psychoneuroses
Freud, Sigmund
Hysteria; Neuroses; Psychoanalysis
It is not always a “forgotten” reminiscence which comes to the surface
under the pressure of the hand; in the rarest cases the real pathogenic
reminiscences can be superficially discovered. More frequently an idea
comes to the surface which is a link between the starting idea and the
desired pathogenic one of the association chain, or it is an idea
forming the starting point of a new series of thoughts and
reminiscences, at the end of which the pathogenic idea exists. The
pressure, therefore, has really not revealed the pathogenic idea, which,
if torn from its connections without any preparation, would be
incomprehensible; but it has shown the way to it, and indicated the
direction towards which the investigation must proceed. The idea which
is at first awakened through the pressure may correspond to a familiar
reminiscence which was never repressed. If the connection becomes torn
on the road to the pathogenic idea, all that is necessary for the
reproduction of a new orientation and connection is a repetition of the
procedure, that is, of the pressure.
In still other cases the pressure of the hand awakens a reminiscence
well known to the patient, which appearance, however, causes him
surprise because he had forgotten its relation to the starting idea. In
the further course of the analysis this relation becomes clear. From all
these results of the pressure one receives a delusive impression of a
superior intelligence external to the patient’s consciousness, which
systematically holds a large psychic material for definite purposes, and
has provided an ingenious arrangement for its return into consciousness.
I presume, however, that this unconscious second intelligence is really
only apparent.
In every complicated analysis one works repeatedly, nay continuously,
with the help of this procedure (pressure on the forehead), which leads
us from the place where the patient’s conscious reconductions become
interrupted, showing us the way over reminiscences which remained known,
and calling our attention to connections which have merged into
forgetfulness. It also evokes and connects memories which have for years
been withdrawn from the association, but can still be recognized as
memories; and finally, as the highest performance of reproduction, it
causes the appearance of thoughts which the patient never wishes to
recognize as his own, which he does not remember, although he admits
that they are inexorably demanded by the connection, and is convinced
that just these ideas cause the termination of the analysis and the
cessation of the symptoms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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