FREUD, Sigmund (1956-1939)

FREUD, Sigmund (1956-1939)

Autograph letter signed « Dr Freud » to a fellow psychoanalyst
Vienna, 17 March 1907, 3 p. in-8° in blue ink
On his letterhead, in fine condition throughout

Freud refers to problems with a shared patient to a fellow psychoanalyst

« I had to wait until late Sunday, as I simply had no time and, moreover, I was ill and could only work by taking aspirin. » Referring to a previous communication, he apologizes that « you were struck by the arrow of my disapproving tone. » Freud then gives his opinion about a patient who was evidently referred to him by his correspondent: « The young man presented himself to me as an idealist in need of help and advice in very intimate matters. But I cannot tolerate idealists who seek to take advantage of the situation. And I will never admit that it is my fault if you have been exploited. I have too little influence over your actions to be able to correct new mistakes in an otherwise excellent education. » Concerning psychoanalytic fees, « a flat rate is absolutely out of the question and a reduction would be criminal in this case. You have not yet learned that one cannot rely on the gratitude of one’s patients in psychoanalysis; you must protect yourself. It was a mistake, in response to his question about the duration [of the analysis], not only to give a precise duration, but also a very short one. The man [the patient] is useless. Let him go and I will make it up to you by finding you a better subject. But above all, I must warn you against letting yourself be drawn into such situations. This is neither the place nor the time. He seeks only to deceive you; if you have already begun, you must then immediately comply with my request. » In conclusion, Freud provides a useful clue as to the identity of the anonymous patient: « Moreover, the son of the delegate and mayor of Brünn most likely has enough money for his idealistic needs, and more besides… » [The mayor of Brünn at that time was August Ritter von Weiser].

In March 1907, Freud’s isolation came to an end definitively. The emerging group of psychoanalysts attempted to create a series entitled « Écrits de psychologie appliquée » with the Deuticke publishing house. Freud, director of the publication, published Le Délire et les rêves dans la Gradiva de Wilhelm Jensen there. In the same year, he wrote Actes obsédants et exercices religieux, in which he addresses the subject of religion: he assumes that there is a connection between an obsessive neurosis and religious practices. Freud is clearly addressing a member of the Mittwochs Gesellschaft (Wednesday Psychological Society, later the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society).