The history of the psychoanalytic movement — John Shaqi
The history of the psychoanalytic movementFreud, Sigmund
History
The history of the psychoanalytic movement
Freud, Sigmund
Psychoanalysis -- History
The standing of psychoanalysis in Germany can be described in no other
way than to state that it is the cynosure of all scientific discussion,
and evokes from physicians as well as from the laity, opinions of
decided rejection, which, so far, have not come to an end, but which, on
the contrary, are constantly renewed and strengthened. No official seat
of learning has, so far, admitted psychoanalysis. Successful
practitioners who apply it are few. Only a few institutions, such as
that of Binswanger’s in Kreuzlingen (on Swiss soil) and Marcinowski’s in
Holstein, have opened their doors to psychoanalysis. In the critical
city of Berlin, we have K. Abraham, one of the most prominent
representatives of psychoanalysis. He was formerly an assistant of
Bleuler. One might wonder that this state of things has thus continued
for a number of years without any change, if it was not known that the
above account merely describes the superficial appearances. One must not
overestimate the significance of the rejection of psychoanalysis by the
official representatives of science, the heads of institutions, as well
as their young following. It is easy to understand why the opponents
loudly raise their voices whilst the followers, being intimidated, keep
silent. Many of the latter, whose first contributions to analysis raised
high expectations, later withdrew from the movement under the pressure
of circumstances. But the movement itself strides ahead quietly. It is
always gaining new supporters among psychiatrists and the laity. It
constantly increases the number of readers of psychoanalytic literature
and thus forces the opponents to a more violent attempt at defense. In
the course of these years I have read, perhaps a dozen times, in the
reports of the transactions of certain congresses and of meetings of
scientific societies, or in reviews of certain publications, that
psychoanalysis was now dead, that it was finally overcome and settled.
The answer to all this would have to read like the telegram from Mark
Twain to the newspaper that falsely announced his death: “The report of
my death is grossly exaggerated.” After each of these death-notices,
psychoanalysis has gained new followers and co-workers and has created
for itself new organs. Surely to be reported dead is an advance over
being treated with dead silence!
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