Sigmund Freud: his Personality, his Teaching, and his School

Abstract

THIS critical history of the psycho-analytical movement, as seen from within by Dr. Fritz Wittels, is of necessity, and admittedly, biassed by his own temperament. He describes how five years of friendship with Freud was followed by an estrangement, which, however, has not prevented Freud from acknowledging the merits and pointing out the drawbacks of the book in a letter from which extracts are reproduced as an introduction. A biography is combined with a running criticism of Freud's views as their development is described, and the personal conflicts are traced that led in turn to the secessions of Jung, Adler, and Stekel, for the last of whom the author expresses an admiration which obviously influences his own opinions. The picture he draws of the faithful disciples who will recognise no other authority than Freud, and of the dissentients who became outcasts from the fold, has few likenesses in the history of science. The pioneer psycho-analysts were surely not like other people, and for this a glance at the history of the movement offers explanations. The contumely and abuse that fell upon them ensured the selection of those careless of the opinion of the herd, whilst the slighted herd instinct demanded in turn the formation of a defensive sect. The absence of effective criticism free from emotional bias aided the isolation from, and contempt for, the outer world of science and medicine.

Sigmund Freud: his Personality, his Teaching, and his School.

By Fritz Wittels. Translated from the German by Eden and Cedar Paul. Pp. 287. (London: G. Allen and Unwin, Ltd., 1924.) 10s. 6d. net.