Character and the Unconscious - A Critical Exposition of the Psychology of Freud and of Jung

J. H. Van Der Hoop

Description

A fascinating discussion on the different theories of Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, the once friends would go on to become enemies, and champions of their own opposing schools of psychological thought.

Sujets

• Clinical Psychology
• Sociologie, société et politique
• Psychology

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 31 mai 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781473385177
• Langue: English

Extrait

Character and the Unconscious
A Critical Exposition of the Psychology of Freud and of Jung
By
J. H. van der HOOP
Authorized Translation by
ELIZABETH TREVELYAN
C OPYRIGHT
PREFACE
T HIS book is intended to be a critical survey of the psychology of Freud and Jung. Although many introductions to this subject have already been published in English, little attention has so far been paid to the causes of divergence in the theories of these scientists, who originally were in complete agreement with each other. This question should be of interest to all who are not content merely to condemn and ignore the point of view which they do not approve of. I believe that only a thorough understanding of this problem will enable us to realise the significance of the new psychology, which cannot grow into a harmonious system of scientific theory unless psychologists will take the trouble to investigate the origin of existing differences of opinion.
I have tried to avoid a detailed description both of psycho-analytical technique, and of the origins of various neuroses. Those subjects seem to me too difficult and complicated, and hardly ripe enough for this kind of general treatment. It is important to realise that psycho-analysis is a most subtle and difficult method, which leads to very complicated psycho-pathological theories; otherwise we might be tempted to form premature and one-sided judgments, and there would be a danger that practitioners and others might attempt to treat patients without sufficient scientific training, and so might bring psycho-analysis into discredit.
This book is the result of nine years intensive study of the practice and theory of psycho-analysis. It was written before the publication of Jung s Psychological Types , after which I revised and added to the fifth chapter, which treats of the psychological types. Thus the book everywhere represents my own views, though I need hardly say how much they owe to both Freud and Jung.
The reader will perceive that I have represented psychology as a science that is still in a state of growth. New experiences are continually accumulating, and giving rise to new and divergent generalisations. Those who have no opportunity of judging from their own experience may easily be confused by this mass of facts and opinions, and will find it very difficult to obtain a clear survey of the whole. Notwithstanding these difficulties, I think that a somewhat general account may be of great use, because the subject-matter of this new psychology has aroused such universal interest, and is so closely connected with many contemporary problems. Our time is full of external and internal strife. In the social world we are faced by many intricate problems, whose solution requires a profound understanding of the human mind. But in our own lives too, we all of us meet with dilemmas and uncertainties which should make us eagerly welcome a science which may throw light on the hidden depths of the soul. I hope that this book may help to convince the reader that the new psychology will in time fulfil many of our expectations.
Next to Mrs R. C. Trevelyan, I wish to express my thanks to Mr R. C. Trevelyan for his revision of the translation, to Miss Constance E. Long, M.D., and to Miss Sybil I. Welsh, M.D., for their criticism of the fifth chapter.
J. H. van der HOOP.
CONTENTS
P REFACE
C HAPTER I. T HE O RIGINS OF P SYCHO -A NALYSIS
Natural science and psychology-The study of hysteria-Charcot-Hypnotism and hysteria-The nature of suggestion-Janet s investigations-Breuer s experiences-The effect of repression-Resistance-The influence of past experiences-Significance of childhood-A new basis of psychology-Sex and hysteria-The hysterical type-Causes of hysteria-Method of treatment-Conditions for treatment-Conclusion
C HAPTER II. T HE U NCONSCIOUS IN THE N ORMAL M IND
Expression in the normal mind-Slight disturbances-Slips of the tongue and of the pen-Slight mistakes-Analysis of dreams-Desires-Unpleasant dreams-The censor-Significance of dreams-The latent and manifest content-Dream-symbolism-The use of repression-Over-repression-The importance of sex-Sex and emotions-Ego-ideals-Difficult temperaments-Psycho-analysis and self-knowledge
C HAPTER III. T HE D EVELOPMENT OF THE E MOTIONS
Importance of earliest childhood-Infancy-Digestive disturbances and cleanliness-Bedwetting-Desire for movement-Bodily gratification-The ego and the outside world- dipus-complex-Conflicting emotions-Brothers and sisters-Problem of the stork-Emotional harmony-The child s relation to the family-Influence of early experience-Death of a near relation-Illness-General account of the first period-Arrest and regression-Latent period-Puberty-Emancipation from the parents-Homosexuality-Education and development of emotions
C HAPTER IV. T HE A NALYTIC AND THE S YNTHETIC P OINTS OF V IEW
Criticism of psycho-analysis-The pathological standpoint-Sublimation-Freud and evolution-Science and the creative principle-Psychological growth-The analytic and the synthetic methods-The dreams of Rosegger-Interpretation of dreams-The two aspects of symbolism-Constructive interpretation-Two methods of dream-interpretation-Arbitrary interpretation and suggestion
C HAPTER V. P SYCHOLOGICAL T YPES
Ideals in education-Individual needs in education-Synthetic psychology-Development of individuality-Introvert and extravert adaptation-The four primary functions-Relation between the functions-Rational and irrational functions-Sensation-Intuition-Feeling-Thinking-Leading and compensating functions-The extravert feeling type-The introvert feeling type-The extravert thinking type-The introvert thinking type-The extravert intuitive type-The introvert intuitive type-The extravert sensation type-The introvert sensation type-Importance of Jung s classification-Contrasts between types-Attraction between types
C HAPTER VI. T HE R ELATION BETWEEN THE C ONSCIOUS AND THE U NCONSCIOUS
The unconscious as a hypothesis-Nature of the unconscious according to Freud and Jung-Dangers of psycho-analysis-Synthetic and analytic treatment-Psychic Development-The Ego-Relative importance of the conscious and the unconscious-Changes in the Self-Re-birth-Psychology and Religion-Natural Development-Arrested Development-The future of psychology
B IBLIOGRAPHY
I NDEX
Character and the Unconscious
CHAPTER I
THE ORIGINS OF PSYCHO-ANALYSIS
A NY enquiry into the origin of psycho-analytical research inevitably leads us into the region of medical science, and more especially to the consideration of that peculiar disease, hysteria. The new psychological outlook did not arise from that psychology which has been evolved, and is still being developed, by philosophers and academic psychologists; it has been the necessary outcome of daily medical practice. We will begin by considering the attitude of the doctor towards his patient, when he desires to determine the nature and causes of a disease. He will carefully examine all the physical symptoms, and note the presence of any peculiar phenomena from which he may infer that a particular organ is ailing. It may happen that these phenomena cannot be ascribed to any physical cause, that they originate in a hidden distress, in overstrain or inner conflict. In the old days when no proper line of demarcation was drawn between the two sets of causes, disease of any sort was attributed to mysterious forces, such as the hand of God, the workings of the devil and of evil spirits, or the malign influence of one individual upon another. There has been a gradual improvement since then; but even to-day the origin and the cure of disease are imputed to hidden causes by the superstitious. Considerable progress was effected in medical science by the development of the natural sciences, and many fantastic theories were uprooted by more methodical and acute observation. The patient s physical condition was examined with ever increasing care; the nature of the disease was circumscribed within better defined limits, and the causes of many ailments became better known. But this advance in knowledge was restricted almost entirely to the physical world. The state of the patient s mind was overlooked, as it was thought impossible to apply here the same accurate methods of observation and experiment. To a great extent this is still the case, and many well known scientists do not believe in the possibility of dealing with psychology in a really scientific manner. Although the symptoms and the course of mental diseases have been patiently and carefully described, reviewed and classified, in practice these labours have not yielded anything like the harvest which mankind has garnered from the natural sciences. So far, we have scarcely advanced beyond the stage of superficial generalisation. Now, however, owing to our growing interest in the workings of the mind, new paths are being discovered which will lead to increasingly practical results.
There was something accidental in the origins of psychological research. During the latter half of the previous century, Charcot, then professor in Paris, achieved world-wide fame by his penetrating investigations into all manner of nerve troubles. He was able to point out that the cause of many cases of paralysis, of physical disturbance of the senses and of the muscles, was to be looked for in certain diseases of the brain and the spine. A slight inflammation or tumour somewhere in this delicate nerve tissue was sometimes found to be the explanation of all sorts of complicated symptoms. After much further enquiry into the nature of nervous diseases, Charcot dedicated himself to the study of hysterical phenomena. At that time the greatest confusion reigned on the subject. Most students preferred not to deal with it at all, and hysterical patients were often looked upon as frauds and impostors. Charcot however was compelled to be interested in symptoms which often closely resembled those of his nerve pa