Historiography and psychoanalysis

Abstract

The act of writing the history of psychoanalysis poses crucial questions with regard to the openness of society. This article examines the fundamental issues faced by researchers when they set about writing the history of psychoanalysis in a specific country. The significance of reconstructing features of the psychoanalytical practice is discussed. The opposition that exists between the current academic ideals and those of the psychoanalytic societies is outlined with reference to the changes that society has undergone, particularly during the past 30 years. In this context, the stance maintained by psychoanalysts with regard to psychiatry, academic psychology, and the university education of psychotherapists is defined. Government accreditation processes for psychologists and psychotherapists are likewise illustrated in the light of the opinions held by psychoanalysts at different moments in time.

Keywords:

• Archives
• France
• history of psychoanalysis
• psychotherapy
• Sweden
• university

Notes

1. In the same way that every country is subject to a specific and unique introduction of psychoanalysis, the evolution of the same will also have its own distinctive national form. Different countries may also resemble each other: there may be similarities in terms of content of the discussions raised by the new discipline, as well as a resemblance regarding the expressions of resistance towards it. Naturally, these likenesses may also be reflected in the psychoanalytic historiography of different countries.

2. It is inevitable that, in a changing society like ours, the university as an institution must also change. There are regularly indications that its natural position as a guarantor for sound and objective knowledge, intellectual integrity and high standards is being undermined. The consequences of this are unimaginable. However, this is not the subject of my article. My point of departure is that the university has been, and still fundamentally is, a place where new knowledge is produced under intellectually respectable circumstances.

3. This article will not discuss the particulars regarding the various forms of psychotherapy, nor the way in which they may involve risk-taking. The author of this article is presently working on a book about the history of psychotherapy in Gothenburg, and will pursue this subject matter in his forthcoming book.

4. While I was occupied with writing an account of the history of psychoanalysis, I had access to some uncensored archives of great interest for a historian. I thank Nils and Gunnar Harding for their generosity in making the archive of their father, Gösta Harding, available to me. Likewise, I would like to mention Edith Székely, who is a psychoanalyst. She opened the archive of her husband, Lajos Székely, to me. In addition to this, the psychoanalyst Annastina Rilton gave me access to several important archival documents. The board of the Swedish Psychoanalytical Society allowed me to work undisturbed in the archive of the society. Their obliging attitude was very helpful and conducive to my research.