Sigmund Freud - The Secret Committee

Sigmund Freud - Freudians

The Secret Committee

The history of psychoanalysis was marked out by numerous baffling breaks. Since the very moment Freud started being surrounded by collaborators, disagreements also began. Many of his ardent supporters later objected to psychoanalytical theories he had established and they even set up their own schools - as in the cases of Alfred Adler (individual psychology) and C. G. Jung (analytical psychology).

Adler and Stekel, the first shifts from Freudian line, as well as his guess that C.G. Jung would also make the decisive step towards a break, convinced Ernest Jones to suggest the creation of a group of trustworthy and loyal psychoanalysts around Freud, as a sort of "Old Guard".

The suggestion was made in Vienna, during a talk with Ferenczi, in 1912. In a letter dated July 30^th the same year, Jones revealed his intention to Freud, and the latter agreed with it. In addition to Jones and Ferenczi, "The Committee" of loyal supporters also admitted Rank, Sachs and Abraham as members.

On Freud's suggestion, Eitingon became the sixth member, in 1919.

The group was dissolved 20 years after its creation.

Made up of Freud's most loyal supporters, the committee consisted of six members (from left to right): Rank, who was to make his own shift later on, Abraham, Eitingon, Jones, Ferenczi and Sachs (click the figures)

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