The Wednesday meetings sometimes ended in conflict. What he wanted was to look into a kaleidoscope lined with mirrors that would multiply the images he introduced into it." (10) The realm of psychoanalysis was his idea and his will, and he welcomed anyone who accepted his views. Indeed, he had little desire that these associates should be persons of strong individuality, that they should be critical and ambitious collaborators. (9)įritz Wittels argued that Freud did not like members of his group to be too intelligent: "It did not matter if the intelligences were mediocre. Freud's pupils - all inspired and convinced - were his apostles." Another member remarked that the original group was "a small and daring group, persecuted now but bound to conquer the world". Another member said "there was an atmosphere of the foundation of a religion in that room. Hanns Sachs said he was "the apostle of Freud who was my Christ". It was clear that Freud was the dominant character in the group that were mostly Jews. These first evenings were inspiring." (8) I gave him the suggestion of founding a little discussion group he accepted the idea, and every Wednesday evening after supper we met in Freud's home. Stekel claimed that it was his idea to form this group: "Gradually I became known as a collaborator of Freud. The main members of the group included Otto Rank, Max Eitingon, Wilhelm Stekel, Karl Abraham, Hanns Sachs, Fritz Wittels and Sandor Ferenczi. (7)Įach week someone would present a paper and, after a short break for black coffee and cakes, a discussion would be held. According to Adler's biographer, Phyllis Bottome, "Freud was much touched by it and sent Adler the famous postcard thanking him for his defence and asking him to join the discussion circle of psychoanalysis." Freud small group of his followers who met every Wednesday evening and became known as the "Wednesday Psychological Society". "He (Freud) was courageous enough to go another way, and to find the importance psychic reasons for bodily disturbances and for the neuroses." (6) Alfred Adler and Sigmund FreudĪfter reading a hostile review of one of Freud's books in the Neue Freie Presse, wrote a letter of protest to the newspaper. At this time he became aware of the work of Sigmund Freud who had published several important books such as Studies on Hysteria (1895), The Interpretation of Dreams (1899) and Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality (1905). (5)Īdler became a psychologist but later recalled that when he was a young man he was "discontented with the state of psychiatry". However, in reality, all the children were brought up as atheists. (4) It was during this period he rejected Judaism because it was a religion for only one ethnic group and he wanted to "share a common deity with the universal faith of man". He also read the early work of the early psychologist, Richard von Krafft-Ebing. Despite his busy practice he continued to study philosophy and sociology. According to Hendrika Vande Kemp: "Raissa Epstein Adler, a radical socialist, influenced her husband’s views on women and served as a feminist model for her daughters and son." (3)Īdler began his medical career as an ophthalmologists, later switching to general practice. He received his medical degree in 1895 and two years later he married Raissa and over the next few years gave birth to four children. Raissa had left her home country because women were not allowed to study at the Russian universities. Born in Moscow she had been involved in left-wing politics in Russia and was a friend of leading Bolsheviks such as Leon Trotsky and Adolph Joffe. While studying at the University of Vienna he met Raissa Epstein. Adler got on much better with his father who praised him for his intellectual abilities and his relationship with his two younger sisters and his two younger brothers were also harmonious. He felt his mother showed her preference for this elder son. While longing for the days when he could join the other boys in athletics, he spent his time reading works of the great classical writers." (2)Īlfred Adler later recalled that "my eldest brother was the only one with whom I did not get along well". After frequent contacts with physicians, Adler resolved to become a doctor. Nevertheless, he did not resign himself to a life of infirmity. (1)įranz Alexander has argued: "While still uncertain on his feet, he was involved in a series of street accidents. As a child he also suffered from pneumonia and he heard a doctor say to his father, "Your boy is lost". He developed rickets and did not walk until he was four years old. Alfred Adler, the second of seven children, was born in Rudolfsheim, a village near Vienna on 7th February, 1870.Īdler's father was a Hungarian-born, sharp-witted, Jewish grain merchant.
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