The neurotic constitution : outlines of a comparative individualistic psychology and psychotherapy / by Alfred Adler ; authorized English translation by Bernard Glueck and John E. Lind.

  • Adler, Alfred, 1870-1937.
Date:
1918 [©1916]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The neurotic constitution : outlines of a comparative individualistic psychology and psychotherapy / by Alfred Adler ; authorized English translation by Bernard Glueck and John E. Lind. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    others have undertaken bold exploratory jour- neys into this field. Pierre Janet has certainly recognized this rela- tionship as is shown in his classical descriptions of the “Hysterical Psyche,” 1894,* but he avoided a detailed description. He expressly maintains, “TI have until now only described general and sim- ple traits of character which by means of their as- sociation and under the influence of definite ex- traneous circumstances may produce all kinds of curious behavior and conduct.” It is entirely out of place here to enter into a detailed discussion of Janet’s description for this treatise would then resemble more a moral romance than a clinical study. Having adhered to this attitude even up to his latest contributions on the subject, Janet, notwithstanding his keen insight into the rela- tionship between the psychology of the neuroses and moral philosophy, never entered the road to synthesis. It remained for Joseph Breuer, a man well versed in current German philosophy, to discover the gem which lay in his path. He directed his attention to the meaning of the symptoms and undertook to ascertain the source and purpose of the same from the only one who could give them _—from the patient. In so doing the author founded a method which seeks to explain indi- 1Translated by Dr. Max Kahane.