Occultism and the Origins of Psychoanalysis: Freud, Ferenczi and the Challenge of Thought Transference

Occultism and the Origins of Psychoanalysis explores the origins of key psychoanalytic ideas in hypnosis and the occult, tracing Freuds early interest in thought-transmission to his discussions with Carl Jung and Sándor Ferenczi. It links modern psychoanalytic practice with Freuds interests in the occult, using primary sources that have never been published in English.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Occultism and the Origins of Psychoanalysis delves into the profound connection between hypnosis and the occult, tracing the origins of key psychoanalytic concepts to their earliest roots. In this captivating exploration, Maria Pierri takes us on a journey to unravel the early interests of Sigmund Freud in thought-transmission, now recognized as telepathy. Freuds private investigations, fueled by his insatiable curiosity, led him into discussions with renowned figures such as Carl Jung and Sándor Ferenczi, where he engaged in a profound dialogue of the unconscious. Through their collaborative efforts, Freud and Ferenczi embarked on groundbreaking investigations into the enigmatic realm of fortune tellers, exploring their ability to read the past from their clients. This insightful inquiry sparked their exploration into countertransference, the analytic relationship, unconscious communication, and the intricate mother-infant relationality. Both Freud and Ferenczi sought to unravel the enigmatic occult link between infants and their mothers, as well as their secret primal language. Their groundbreaking research on thought transference serves as a matrix for the developments of contemporary psychoanalysis. Pierri skillfully weaves together primary sources, some of which have never been published in English, to establish a clear link between modern psychoanalytic practice and Freuds profound interests in the occult. This book will captivate psychoanalysts in both practice and training, as well as academics and scholars of Freudian ideas, psychoanalytic theory, the history of psychology, and the occult. It serves as a valuable addition to the literature, enriching our understanding of the intricate interplay between these diverse disciplines.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 155 x 233 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032159553