Surprise and the psycho-analyst : on the conjecture and comprehension of unconscious processes

303 Pages·1999·5.666 MB·English

by  Reik, Theodor

The International Library of Psychology
SURPRISE AND THE
PSYCHO-ANALYST
Founded by C. K. Ogden
The International Library of Psychology
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
In 21 Volumes
I The Psycho-Analysis of Artistic Vision
and Hearing Ehrenzweig
II A Source Book of Gestalt Psychology Ellis
III Common Sense and its Cultivation Hankin
IV The Nature of Learning Humphrey
V Eidetic Imagery and Typological Methods
of Investigation Jaensch
VI The World of Colour Katz
VII Principles of Gestalt Psychology Koffka
VIII Colour and Colour Theories Ladd-Franklin
IX Sense-Perception and Matter Lean
X Invention and the Unconscious Montmasson
XI Psychology and Education Ogden
XII Human Speech Paget
XIII The Gestalt Theory and the Problem of
Configuration Petermann
XIV Surprise and the Psycho-Analyst Reik
XV The Psychology of a Musical Prodigy Revesz
XVI Biological Memory Rignano
XVII The Psychology of Reasoning Rignano
XVIII The Effects of Music Schoen
XIX Analysis of Perception S my t hies
XX Speech Disorders St inch field
XXI The Psycho-Biology of Language Zipf
SURPRISE AND THE
PSYCHO-ANALYST
On the Conjecture and
Comprehension of Unconscious
Processes
THEODOR REIK
First published in 1936 by
Routledge, Trench, Trubner & Co., Ltd.
Reprinted in 1999 by
Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, 0X14 4RN
Transferred to Digital Printing 2007
© 1936 Theodor Reik
Translated from the German by Margaret M Green
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
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and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library
Surprise and the Psycho-Analyst
ISBN 0415-20969-2
Cognitive Psychology: 21 Volumes
ISBN 0415-21126-3
The International Library of Psychology: 204 Volumes
ISBN 0415-19132-7
Dedicated in token of Friendship, to
Dr. I. E. G. van EMDEN
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C O N T E N T S
CHAP. PAGE
I Introductory. Psychology is not Self-Evident i
II Conscious and Unconscious Observation is
III Noticing, Attention, and Taking Note 3i
IV From the truly Startling to the Startlingly
Tr u e ............................................................................ 5i
V The Psychogenesis of Analytical Interpretation
and of Wi t .................................................................. 62
VI Knowledge Experienced and Knowledge Learnt by
Ro t e ............................................................................. 73
VII There is no Royal Road through the Unconscious 86
VIII Point of Departure, Pause, Resumption IOI
IX Concerning Tact, T ime, and Rhythm 112
X The Distinction between Memory and Reminis­
cence . . . . . . . . 126
XI An Uncomprehended Ca se ............................................ 141
XII The Question of Evidence— Conjecture and Com­
prehension .................................................................. 156
XIII The Psychical Process of Conjecture 168
XIV The Original Nature of Comprehension 179
XV The Instinctive Basis of Psychological Conjec­
ture . . . . . . . . 191
XVI Concerning Reciprocal Illumination . 206
XVII The Significance of Recurrent Reflection 225
XVIII The Experience of Others in the Ego 237
XIX T he Psychical Mechanism of Anticipation 252
XX The Shock of Th o u g h t............................................ 263
XXI Psychological Cognition and Suffering. The
Courage not to Comprehend . . . . 275
289
vii
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SURPRISE AND THE
PSYCHO-ANALYST
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY
PSYCHOLOGY IS NOT SELF-EVIDENT
THIS book is an attempt—so far as I know, the first—
to describe what is required of an investigator into the
unconscious mental processes of another person, and what he
achieves. By describing the psychological process of cognition
from within, I intend at the same time to trace the way from
conjecturing to comprehending the unconscious processes.
I shall not treat the processes of conjecture and comprehen­
sion of unconscious phenomena on the same footing. I shall
establish the process of conjecture as far as my knowledge
goes. As regards the process of comprehension, I shall only
discuss its initial phases, its primary intent and psychical
mechanism. This discrimination is due to the different part
which the unconscious plays in the two processes; it is, of
course, greater in the reconnoitring phase of conjecture than
in the stage of cognition, in which the performances of the
unconscious mind are apprehended with the resources and
methods of conscious thought. I am concerned with the
investigation of the unconscious and preconscious phases, lead­
ing from the perception of a psychical phenomenon to its
comprehension.
Undoubtedly there are at the present time various schools
of psychology occupied in the investigation of unconscious
I B