An edition of The discovery of the unconscious (1970)

The discovery of the unconscious

the history and evolution of dynamic psychiatry

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Last edited by ImportBot
December 19, 2023 | History
An edition of The discovery of the unconscious (1970)

The discovery of the unconscious

the history and evolution of dynamic psychiatry

  • 5.0 (1 rating) ·
  • 96 Want to read
  • 5 Currently reading
  • 3 Have read

In this study of the history of dynamic psychiatry, Ellenberger provides an account of the early history of psychology covering such figures as Franz Anton Mesmer, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Pierre Janet. The work has become a classic, and has been credited with demolishing the myth of Freud's originality and encouraging scholars to question the scientific validity of psychoanalysis. Critics have questioned the reliability of some of Ellenberger's judgments. [...]
Ellenberger shows that Freud was dependent on earlier writers, especially Janet. He describes psychoanalysis and analytical psychology as forms of hermeneutics (the art or science of interpretation), comparing both disciplines to the philosophical schools of Graeco-Roman antiquity.
Freud, according to Ellenberger, was heir to the Protestant Seelsorge or "Cure of Souls", a practice that arose after Protestant reformers abolished the ritual of confession. During the 19th century, the idea of unburdening oneself by confessing a shameful secret was gradually transferred from religion to medicine, influencing Mesmer's animal magnetism, and eventually Freud.
Ellenberger argues that evaluating Freud's contributions to psychiatry is made difficult by a legend involving two main features that developed around Freud: the first being, "the theme of the solitary hero struggling against a host of enemies, suffering the 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune' but triumphing in the end", and the second, "the blotting out of the greatest part of the scientific and cultural context in which psychoanalysis developed". The first aspect rested on exaggeration of the anti-Semitism Freud encountered, as well as overstatement of the hostility of the academic world and the Victorian prejudices that hampered psychoanalysis. The second aspect led to Freud being credited with the achievements of others. [Excerpted from the Wikipedia article]

Publish Date
Publisher
Basic Books
Language
English
Pages
932

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Previews available in: English

Edition Availability
Cover of: The discovery of the unconscious
Cover of: The Discovery of the Unconscious
The Discovery of the Unconscious
August 1981, Basic Books
in English
Cover of: The discovery of the unconscious
Cover of: The discovery of the unconscious
The discovery of the unconscious: its history and evolution of dynamic psychiatry
1970, Allen Lane, the Penguin Press
Cover of: The discovery of the unconscious

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Book Details


Edition Notes

Includes bibliographical references.

6

Published in
New York

Classifications

Dewey Decimal Class
150.19/5
Library of Congress
BF173 .E6, BF173 .E6 1970

The Physical Object

Pagination
xvi, 932 p. : ill., ports. ; 24 cm. --
Number of pages
932

ID Numbers

Open Library
OL4438407M
Internet Archive
discoveryofuncon00ellerich
ISBN 10
0465016723
LCCN
79094287
OCLC/WorldCat
1029401627, 68543, 87855933, 10351
Library Thing
104477
Goodreads
565639

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History

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December 19, 2023 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
October 8, 2021 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
July 31, 2020 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
July 24, 2020 Edited by MARC Bot import existing book
December 10, 2009 Created by WorkBot add works page