Psychoanalytic Pioneers: A History of Psychoanalysis as Seen Through the Lives and the Works of its Most Eminent Teachers, Thinkers, and Clinicians

648 Pages·1966·58.9 MB·English

by  Samuel Eisenstein

Karl AbrM(ini4aVflMlKhHV(WKIaf«ai'#mt^rtliJ*151t?/Tli^(i>'«J!nWlHlir/ilt.ll7l)(f.ifiW^^ <'-;ii^*VTi'VMV^r
Melanie Klein
Sandor Ferenezi Franz Alexander
Rank
Otto Marie Bonaparte
Carl Gustav Jnng
Siegfried Bernfeld
Alfred Adler
Wilhelni Reich
Paul Federn
Otto Fenichel
Haiins Sachs Karen Horney
Georg Groddeck
Heinz Hartmann
Hans Zulliger Anna Freud
August Aichhorn Erik H. Erikson
eers
A
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Psychoanalytic
Pioneers
is a comprehensive history ofpsychoanalysis as seen
through the lives and the works of its most eminent
teachers, thinkers, and clinicians. At the same time,
it is a definitive portrait of the atmosphere in which
psychoanalyticcreativityhasemergedandflourished.
Freud's towering personality has perhaps over-
shadowedtheworkandcontributionsofotherpromi-
nent workers in psychoanalysis. Biographies of lead-
ing figures are practically nonexistent, and only rare
and fragmentary studies are available.
"The history of the men and women who have made
psychoanalysis what it is today ought to be written
now," observe the editors, while "close enough to
get first-hand impressions and reports and far
enough away to avoid the danger of uncritical
partisanship."
Portrayed according to the chronology of their ap-
pearance on the psychoanalytic stage, here are pro-
files of Karl Abraham, Sandor Ferenczi, Otto Rank,
Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Ernest Jones, Paul Federn,
Oskar Pfister, Hanns Sachs, A. A. Brill, Sandor
Rado, Theodor Reik, Melanie Klein, Otto Fenichel,
Karen Horney, Heinz Hartmann, Ernst Kris, and
twenty-four other pioneers who have significantly
influenced theory and technique.
Going beyond mere biographical description, the
contributors elucidate the contributions of each to
the evolution ofpsychoanalytic thought and evaluate
their roles in the development of psychoanalysis as
a science, as a method of investigation, as a treat-
ment technique, and as an organization.
The book's concluding chapters, "Psychoanalysis in
England" and "Psychoanalysis in the United States,"
review the historical development, problems of or-
ganization, theoretical contributions, and current
status of psychoanalysis in these two countries.
In addition to the editors, contributors to the vol-
ume include Rudolf Ekstein, Edward Glover, Ralph
Greenson, Rudolph Loewenstein, Sandor Lorand,
John A. P. Millet, Samuel Ritvo, May E. Romm,
Edoardo Weiss, Hans Zulliger, and many others.

PSYCHOANALYTIC
PIONEERS

PSYCHOANALYTIC
PIONEERS
EDITED BY
FRANZ ALEXANDER
SAMUEL EISENSTEIN
MARTIN GROTJAHN
BASIC BOOKS, INC.
PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK LONDON
Copyright(g) 1966byBasicBooks,Inc.
Library ofCongressCatalog CardNumber:66-11692
Manufacturedinthe UnitedStatesofAmerica
DESIGNED BY VINCENT TORRE
—
Preface
The history of psychoanalysis has recently received profound atten-
tion. Most historical work has centered around the life, the personality,
and the achievement of Sigmund Freud, culminating in Ernest Jones's
monumental biography of the man. Other research has reconstructed
the development of centers of psychoanalysis, for example. The Berlin
Institute or those in Chicago, New York, and Boston. The Minutes of
the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, recently published, vividly describe
the life of that Society and the men around Freud in the early days.
These minutes have given insight into the atmosphere out of which
psychoanalysis grew. However, biographies of the great men in psy-
choanalysis are practically nonexistent: information has been limited
to brief obituaries in the professional journals, and analytic auto-
biographies are rare and fragmentary.
Under these circumstances, writing a history of the pioneers in psy-
choanalysisand a description of pioneering in the psychoanalytic move-
ment was a temptation and a challenge, especially a history that would
present a genetic picture of psychoanalysis during its development.
The history of the men and women who have made psychoanalysis
whatitistoday oughtto be written noiv, we felt, although much of the
correspondence between Freud and his early followers still awaits pub-
lication and is bound to have immediate and important impact on any
such study. Freud and Ferenczi's correspondence, containing more
than two thousand letters, has been read by a few trusted friends.
—
Freud's correspondence with Karl Abraham almost 360 letters
has been published by Basic Books, Inc. The unique correspondence
among Freud, Ferenczi, and Georg Groddeck is extant, but it has been
PSYCHOANALYTIC PIONEERS
studied incompletely. The letters exchanged between Freud and Lud-
wig Binswanger and between Freud and Oskar Pfister have recently-
been published. Many other letters of the untiring, letter-writing Freud
are being collected by the Sigmund Freud Archives and are not avail-
able at this time.
The editors decided, however, not to delay publication of this book
any further, despite the unavailability of important historical source
material. Right now, we still have living contact with the early times,
be it directly or indirectly, through many of the authors who have
We
contributed to this book. stand at an advantageous distance from
these early times for seeing the growth of psychoanalysis and the
contributions to it by the pioneers; we are close enough to get first-
hand impressions and reports, and far enough away to avoid the danger
of uncritical hero worship or partisanship. Many of the early pioneers
are portrayed here by their former students, who themselves have
reached eminence in our field. It is significant for the spirit of pioneer-
ing that those who first contributed to our knowledge were also in-
spired teachers and continued to keep a spirit of scientific inquiry alive
in our ranks.
These essays are not limited to historical descriptions of psycho-
We
analytic pioneers and their contributions. also give some evaluation
We
of their contributions to the evolution of psychoanalytic thought.
have tried to describe those who developed psychoanalysis as a science,
as a method of investigation, as a technique of treatment, and as an or-
ganization.
Psychoanalysis was created by Freud and his early followers. A pio-
neer in psychoanalysis is a person who, having recognized the truth
and importance of Freud's teachings, devoted his life to the advance
and spread of our knowledge through research and teaching. We have
dealt with the great teachers and clinicians in psychoanalysis.
We
are aware of the incompleteness and deficiencies of this book.
Some may look in vain for their personal friends or may differ with
the evaluation given by the many different authors included. Our work
will not be futile if such controversial profiles should inspire further
investigation.
Some omissions will be obvious to all. These are due to our inability
to obtain adequate biographies or to other circumstances beyond the
editors' control. They neither constitute intentional omissions nor imply
negative evaluation.
vi