Swales on Cäcilie M. part 2
From “Freud’s Master Hysteric”:
Where did Freud get his ideas from? “Aristotle interprets theatrical tragedy as a medium which, by invoking pity and fear, accomplishes a ‘catharsis of such emotions’ among the audience” (28). Then “in 1857, the classical philologist Jacob Bernays had advanced a novel medical interpretation, arguing that Aristotle had conceived of tragedy as a catharsis of emotions which, if undischarged, would assume a noxious property” (28). In this sense Freud is not original in his theories of cathartic therapy or noxious symptoms, and the wide spread development of these ideas by independent thinkers of the time suggests that the “abreaction” of memories was “an idea whose time had come” (28)
According to the Studies on Hysteria Freud “would rapidly induce a state of hypnosis and endeavor to abolish her symptoms by suggesting them away. After some time however - and, thenceforth, for some three years following - he systematically made the use of the cathartic method in seeking to dissolve these attacks” (25). That is to say, “circa autumn 1889 - about a year after he had apparently treated [Cäcilie M.] with hypnotic suggestion - with her cooperation Freud began systematically employing the cathartic method” (28). In addition Freud had a “so-called ‘pressure technique,’ whereby, on the model of what he had watched Bernheim do towards retrieving hypnotic suggestions, he would lay his hand on his patient’s forehead, or take the patient’s head between his hands, assuring the person that this would stimulate the particular memory requiring recollection” (29). This pressure technique is supposed to be like a mini version of shock therapy, which was also thought to stimulate memory extirpation.
However, reviewing the case studies, Swales notes that “it was not before 1892-1893 that Freud and Breuer would first use the terms ‘catharsis’ and abreaction’” (28). This suggests that Freud either rewrote history, or these elements of psychoanalytic history were being written during the case study of Cäcilie M.. This is what Freud claims. Freud was learning from Cäcilie M. about hysteria. Despite this case study being highly complicated by the patient’s morphine addiction, Freud attributes much of his understanding of hysteria to Cäcilie M., “to whom I am indebted for much help in gaining an understanding of hysterical symptoms” (quoted on 26). Moreover, Freud referred to Cäcilie M. as his “most important patient [Hauptklientin]” and his teacher, “Lehrmeisterin” (quoted on 31, 32). How so?
Swales tells us, “it is clear that in treating ‘Frau Cäcilie M.’ Freud gained many of his earliest insights not only into the essential process of ‘abreaction’ but also - particularly, no doubt, through their innovation of the ‘free association’ method, although its use in her case is not explicitly stated - into so many of those mechanisms of mind postulated by him as being manifestations of the ‘unconscious’” (32). “Freud attributed the very introduction of his ‘free association’ method - and therefore the birth of psychoanalysis proper - specifically to his treatment of a woman whom we now know to have been [Cäcilie M.]” (29). Further Cäcilie M.’s “own understanding of her illness was that it was largely consequent upon earlier disturbances of passion,” and so “Freud was brought into direct confrontation with the realm of sexuality, blatant rather than latent” (32). And we cannot deny Cäcilie M.’s centrality to Freud’s early thought because Cäcilie M. was “concerned with dreams and their interpretation” and so “would surely have been among those who encouraged Freud in his recognition of their significance” (33). Why would Freud be so influence by his patient’s theories of their own illnesses? Swales offers one possibility, “the treatment must have been a very lucrative one for him to undertake” (31).
Don't forget to check out part 2 of Giron's "Psychoanalysis is a Science Fiction".
Where did Freud get his ideas from? “Aristotle interprets theatrical tragedy as a medium which, by invoking pity and fear, accomplishes a ‘catharsis of such emotions’ among the audience” (28). Then “in 1857, the classical philologist Jacob Bernays had advanced a novel medical interpretation, arguing that Aristotle had conceived of tragedy as a catharsis of emotions which, if undischarged, would assume a noxious property” (28). In this sense Freud is not original in his theories of cathartic therapy or noxious symptoms, and the wide spread development of these ideas by independent thinkers of the time suggests that the “abreaction” of memories was “an idea whose time had come” (28)
According to the Studies on Hysteria Freud “would rapidly induce a state of hypnosis and endeavor to abolish her symptoms by suggesting them away. After some time however - and, thenceforth, for some three years following - he systematically made the use of the cathartic method in seeking to dissolve these attacks” (25). That is to say, “circa autumn 1889 - about a year after he had apparently treated [Cäcilie M.] with hypnotic suggestion - with her cooperation Freud began systematically employing the cathartic method” (28). In addition Freud had a “so-called ‘pressure technique,’ whereby, on the model of what he had watched Bernheim do towards retrieving hypnotic suggestions, he would lay his hand on his patient’s forehead, or take the patient’s head between his hands, assuring the person that this would stimulate the particular memory requiring recollection” (29). This pressure technique is supposed to be like a mini version of shock therapy, which was also thought to stimulate memory extirpation.
However, reviewing the case studies, Swales notes that “it was not before 1892-1893 that Freud and Breuer would first use the terms ‘catharsis’ and abreaction’” (28). This suggests that Freud either rewrote history, or these elements of psychoanalytic history were being written during the case study of Cäcilie M.. This is what Freud claims. Freud was learning from Cäcilie M. about hysteria. Despite this case study being highly complicated by the patient’s morphine addiction, Freud attributes much of his understanding of hysteria to Cäcilie M., “to whom I am indebted for much help in gaining an understanding of hysterical symptoms” (quoted on 26). Moreover, Freud referred to Cäcilie M. as his “most important patient [Hauptklientin]” and his teacher, “Lehrmeisterin” (quoted on 31, 32). How so?
Swales tells us, “it is clear that in treating ‘Frau Cäcilie M.’ Freud gained many of his earliest insights not only into the essential process of ‘abreaction’ but also - particularly, no doubt, through their innovation of the ‘free association’ method, although its use in her case is not explicitly stated - into so many of those mechanisms of mind postulated by him as being manifestations of the ‘unconscious’” (32). “Freud attributed the very introduction of his ‘free association’ method - and therefore the birth of psychoanalysis proper - specifically to his treatment of a woman whom we now know to have been [Cäcilie M.]” (29). Further Cäcilie M.’s “own understanding of her illness was that it was largely consequent upon earlier disturbances of passion,” and so “Freud was brought into direct confrontation with the realm of sexuality, blatant rather than latent” (32). And we cannot deny Cäcilie M.’s centrality to Freud’s early thought because Cäcilie M. was “concerned with dreams and their interpretation” and so “would surely have been among those who encouraged Freud in his recognition of their significance” (33). Why would Freud be so influence by his patient’s theories of their own illnesses? Swales offers one possibility, “the treatment must have been a very lucrative one for him to undertake” (31).
Don't forget to check out part 2 of Giron's "Psychoanalysis is a Science Fiction".