Among many things I learned from Russel Jacoby’s recent article from the Chronicles of Higher Education on Freud’s 1909 visit to the United States: Freud only made one visit to the United States.

I find that fact incredibly interesting after viewing The Century of the Self, an amazing BBC documentary series on the influence of Uncle Siggy’s theories on the American psyche (thanks to @timothyernst for introducing me to The Century of the Self). However, Freud didn’t have to be here to spread his ideas, that’s what is nephew Edward Bernays was for. However, I think the sinister nature of Freud’s theories described in The Century of the Self shouldn’t be attributed to Freud, he was focused on the individual. Bernays applied those theories to a false collective, the “we” of society that doesn’t actually exist.  And by doing so, creating many of the problems with America today.

Some other great excerpts:

“Freud spoke in German with no translation provided… a series of lectures in German neither diminished the audience nor elicited disapproval. In 1909 advanced study usually meant study in Germany. It was assumed the professoriate knew German. Today the opposite is true. That might not be a reason for dismay, if other languages have replaced German, but that has not happened. The din about globalization evades the reality of the decline of serious language study among American students. Globalization spells ‘English Spoken Here.’ ”

Freud suspected that American prudishness would curtail the reception of his ideas. I think, he wrote to Jung before they departed, that once the Americans “discover the sexual core of our psychological theories they will drop us.”

With virtually no success in the United States, Freud fought what might be called the monopolization of psychoanalysis by medical doctors. He wanted nonmedical or lay people to practice psychoanalysis, if they were properly trained. This was no minor issue to Freud. He distrusted the medical profession.

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I think that Freud’s choice for an epigram to The Interpretation of Dreams, as quoted in the article, describes my state of mind currently: “If I cannot bend the higher powers, I shall stir up hell.”

I’m trying to bend the higher powers these days… I hope to make progress because I don’t want to pursue the alternative.