Effect of First World War on the Psychoanalytic Movement - Essay Example

Effect of First World War on the Psychoanalytic Movement Psychoanalysis refers to an extremely influential intervention to mental disorders in medical and clinical health. The treatment relies on the psychoanalytic theory, which entails the use of unconscious psychological treatment techniques. In addition, the treatment method involves a process of examining and treating a person’s mental condition through an in-depth analysis (Makari 22). The individuals involved in the treatment process engage each other in an in-depth conversation in order to elaborate on various factors that influence their mental condition. The patients are mainly individuals suffering from different mental disorders, and the doctor is a psychoanalyst. The patients discuss their social and personal issues with the doctor, which form the foundation for establishing an appropriate treatment criterion (Gellner 30). An Austrian doctor, Sigmund Freud in 1900, discovered psychoanalysis. Sigmund performed various experimental psychoanalysis treatments on his close friends and families in order to establish the effectiveness of the techniques in the treatment of various mental conditions. In addition, the initiatives by Sigmund to resolve mental issues using psychoanalysis led to the establishment of the psychoanalysis movement in Austria. The movement aimed at educating various learners across the world on the approaches of psychoanalysis in the treatment of mental disorders. In addition, the members of the movement initiated various activities and rallies across Europe to promote the achievements of the technique (Kutter 22). The movement originated from the clinical formulations and observations of Sigmund Freud, an Austrian psychiatrist. Freud alongside Josef Breuer engaged in various studies involving neurotic patients who were undergoing hypnosis. Josef and Freud observed that the state of the patients improved when the sources of their impulses and ideas were established under consciousness while in a hypnotic state. The patients communicated freely regarding their social conditions without the influence of hypnosis, which enhanced the treatment process. The technique of establishing free association with the patients enhanced the findings of Freud experiments, which was critical in the success of the psychoanalytic treatment. In this approach, the patients communicate freely regarding various issues that arise from the brains, which enables the doctor to develop an effective approach to the treatment (Gellner 28). The First World War began in Austria in 1914 due to the declaration of war by Austria against Serbia. The World War 1 effects on the activities were vast. The paper describes various effects of the First World War on the development and initiatives of the psychoanalysis movement worldwide (Makari 31). The First World had various effects on the activities of the psychoanalysis movement during its early stages. The war led to the resignation of various leaders in the movement such as Wilhelm Stekel, Alfred Adler and Carl Jung. The resignation of the leaders from the movement resulted from the disagreements about the core role of the war. In addition, most of the leaders of the organization supported the initiatives by specific countries in Europe to support the declaration of war by Austria on Serbia. These disagreements among leaders jeopardized the activities and progress of the movement during the First World War. The first resignation was caused by the initiatives of the founders of the movement Sigmund Feud and Josef to support the activities of the war in different parts of the world. Alfred Adler, a British resigned from the movement because most of the memberships comprised of Germans and Austrians who supported the activities of the war. In addition, the leaders of the movement neglected the plans for carrying out educative seminars in other parts of the world, which limited its impact in the medical field. Adler resigned from the movement at the onset of the First World War and engaged in various activities of the war (Kutter 26). The resignation of Adler from the movement reduced the support base for the movement in various countries such as French and Britain, which limited its expansion. The second resignation n from the movement involved Wilhelm Stekel. Wilhelm resigned from the movement due to intense argument and major disagreements with movement leadership (Makari 34). The member supported the idea of moving the movement to various countries in Europe in order to enhance the impact of the treatment in different population. Wilhelm’s resignation led to the split of the membership of the movement based on their views regarding the ideologies of the war. In addition, most of the members of the movement opposed the First World War, which differed from the perspectives of specific leaders such as Feud and Josef. The disagreements in the movement about the war also led to the resignation of the movement’s president, Carl Jung. Resignation of the president was a major blow to the activities of the movement like organization of the international congress. In addition, the international movement’s presidency served as a sign of unity among the members, which enhanced its agenda. Carl Jung was also among the best leaders of the movements regarding its organization, planning and uniting the membership from different parts of the world (Kutter 31). The World War 1 resulted to termination of the movement’s international congresses because of security concern. The aim of the international congress was to formulate the movement’s annual plan and election its leadership. The international congresses were cancelled because most of the countries involved in the agenda participated in the First World War. Most of the countries in Europe participated in the war, which limited the security and the number of members who were available for the congress (Makari 44). In addition, there were intense disagreements about the venues of the meeting due to the regulations imposed by various countries regarding the movement of its citizens. Moreover, most of the members of the movement participated in various activities of the war, which limited the number of people attending the congresses (Kutter 41). The disagreements among the leaderships of various nations in Europe and the United States hindered their citizens from travelling to rival territories in order to promote safety and security. Additionally, half of the nations participating at the international congress were at war with the other half of the participating countries, which hindered communication between the members. Lack of communication led to cancellation of the plans to organize a congress in various parts of Europe. Regardless of the efforts by Feud to communicate with the supporters of the movement in different countries, his communication dwindled because most the members participated in the war. The countries involved in the association established strict measures to minimize communications with enemy nations, which paralyzed the activities of the movement. The limited communication among the leadership and members of the International Psychoanalytic Association hindered preparations for the congresses in different countries worldwide. In addition, most of the countries participating in the war limited movement of foreigners into the country in order to enhance the ideologies of the war (Gellner 45). Another aspect of the war that affected the activities of the psychoanalysis movement was the participation of the psychoanalysts in the efforts of the war. The psychoanalyst was included in various forces in their respective countries as psychiatrists or physicians because of the increase in war neuroses. Initially, a display of various symptoms among soldiers and psychiatrists such as nightmares, constant nervousness and traumatic memories indicated cowardice in the affected individuals. However, most countries, which participated in the First World War, engaged psychoanalyst in the military activities in order to reduce instances of nervousness and traumatic situations among the soldiers. The military leadership in the countries evaluated that the nervousness and traumatic conditions among the psychiatrists and military officials was a result of their daily experiences in the war. The use of psychoanalysts during the war enhanced the initiatives of psychoanalysis studies and associations in the world. In addition, most officials in the military and different departments in the world country appreciated the efforts of the psychoanalyst in the war (Kutter 38). The war also increased the support for psychoanalysis techniques in various fields in medicine, which was essential in bringing various psychoanalysts together. The use of the psychoanalysis in the First World War enhanced the perspective of the public regarding the importance of psychoanalysis in the society (Kutter 23). In addition, most government officials from different parts of the world attended the fifth Psychoanalysts Congress in Budapest, Hungary. It also involved the election of a Hungarian to the presidency of the movement for the first time (Gellner 33). The leadership from Germany, Hungary and Austria attended the congress because of the crucial role psychoanalysis played during the war. Work cited Gellner, Ernest. The Psychoanalytic Movement. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2003. Print. Kutter, Peter. Psychoanalysis International, V.1. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013. Print. Makari, George. Revolution In Mind. New York: HarperCollins, 2008. Print. Read More