Traum und Telepathie: Vortrag in der Wiener psychoanalytischen Vereinigung

In this concise lecture, Freud tackles the era’s fascination with occult phenomena by probing the supposed connection between telepathy and dreaming. He clearly states he will not argue for or against telepathy’s existence, but will test its relevance to psychoanalytic dream theory. The setting is early twentieth‑century Vienna, where scientific inquiry meets popular curiosity.

Freud illustrates his point with a handful of personal dreams, such as a wartime vision of a fallen son and a later scene involving his English nieces in black dress. He shows how each image can be linked to childhood memories or repressed wishes, not to any external telepathic influence.

The talk reads like a candid conversation, acknowledging that Freud never experienced a truly telepathic dream himself. Listeners gain a clear view of his dream‑work method and a measured critique of occult speculation. It offers insight into how early psychoanalysis balanced scientific rigor with the allure of the unconscious.