The history of the psychoanalytic movement

In this personal memoir, the founder of psychoanalysis offers a candid look at the discipline's uneasy beginnings. He recounts his early collaboration with Josef Breuer, the shift from hypnotic catharsis to free association, and the skeptical reactions of his contemporaries. The narrative sets the stage for a movement that would soon provoke both fierce opposition and passionate support. He also reflects on the inevitable criticism that accompanied his radical ideas, framing the struggle as part of the method's very nature.

The author traces how the fledgling school expanded beyond Vienna, describing the formation of societies, the publication of early papers, and the heated debates that shaped its theory. His reflections reveal both the intellectual excitement and the personal rivalries that colored the early community. Listeners gain a rare insider’s perspective on the forces that molded psychoanalysis during its formative years. By anchoring the story in his own experiences, the work invites readers to consider how personal bias and historical context intertwine in scientific discovery.