Freud on Endopsychic Superstition

Abstract

Drawing on hints from Freud, particularly from his account of Cäcilie M. in Studies in Hysteria, this paper tries to elucidate the (or an) etiology of the superstition against boasting. In describing the mechanisms at work in the superstition, such as denial and projection, an attempt is also made to clarify Freud’s central but shadowy notion of ‘endopsychic perception’. The paper concludes by considering briefly the utility of such an etiology in understanding and treating obsessional disorders.