Sigmund Freud and Hypnosis: The Interaction of Psychoanalysis & Hypnosis by: Kline, Milton
Hardcover. NY, Julian Press, 1st, 1958, Book: Very Good, Dust Jacket: None, Hardcover, 207 pages. Black cloth with gilt lettering on spine, decorative device on front cover. According to his biographers, Freud was not comfortable in making hand passes and touching the subject, which were the (limited) techniques available at the end of the 19th century. Freud studied with Charcot and Bernheim (the two schools of thought which conflicted with each other), but later gave hypnosis up in favor of his free association technique. This book begins by discussing the reasons Freud did that. It states that Freud at the end of life regretting not using hypnosis more. His followers balked at hypnosis, erroneously believing the cures were temporary since the ego was being bypassed (and their theoretical beliefs required the ego to be the agent). But this book reveals that Freud did not abandon hypnosis for the reasons commonly thought, and so it is essential reading for all students of Freud. The second part of the book goes into commentary on hypnosis in theory and practice. Small ink doodle to front fly leaf, otherwise clean.