Main description:

In Freud's Early Psychoanalysis, Witch Trials and the Inquisitorial Method: The Harsh Therapy, author Kathleen Duffy asks why Freud compared his 'hysterical' patients to the accused women in the witch trials, and his 'psychoanalytical' treatment to the inquisitorial method of their judges. He wrote in 1897 to Wilhelm Fliess: 'I ... understand the harsh therapy of the witches' judges'. This book proves that Freud's view of his method as inquisitorial was both serious and accurate.

In this multidisciplinary and in-depth examination, Duffy demonstrates that Freud carefully studied the witch trial literature to develop the supposed parallels between his patients and the witches and between his own psychoanalytic method and the judges' inquisitorial extraction of 'confessions', by torture if necessary. She examines in meticulous detail both the witch trial literature that Freud studied and his own case studies, papers, letters and other writings. She shows that the various stages of his developing early psychoanalytic method, from the 'Katharina' case of 1893, through the so-called seduction theory of 1896 and its retraction, to the 'Dora' case of 1900, were indeed in many respects inquisitorial and invalidated his patients' experience.

This book demonstrates with devastating effect the destructive consequences of Freud's nineteenth-century inquisitorial practice. This raises the question about the extent to which his mature practice and psychoanalysis and psychotherapy today, despite great achievements, remain at times inquisitorial and consequently untrustworthy. This book will therefore be invaluable not only to academics, practitioners and students of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, literature, history and cultural studies, but also to those seeking professional psychoanalytic or psychotherapeutic help.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

Foreword by Anthony Stadlen

Part I

Introduction

Chapter 1. An analysis of the idea of devils, witches and evil

Chapter 2. The judges and inquisitors in the witch trials

Part II

Chapter 3. Freud's pre-analytic cases

Chapter 4. The seduction theory

Chapter 5. Transitional period

Chapter 6. Why did Freud abandon his seduction theory?

Chapter 7. The 'Dora' case

Conclusion

Appendix 1. Charcot demonstrates the physical symptoms of hysteria in one of his patients

Appendix 2. Bibliotheque Diabolique publications

Appendix 3. Baldung-Grien 'The Bewitched Groom' 1544

Bibliography

Index