Chapter 2    Freud: Psychoanalysis23
fei75766_ch02_019-071.indd 23  02/19/20 08:59 AMaid.Reluctantly, Freud turned from hislaboratory tothepractice ofmedicine. He
worked for3years intheGeneral Hospital ofVienna, becoming familiar withthe
practice ofvarious branches ofmedicine, including psychiatry andnervous diseases 
(Freud, 1925/1959).
In1885, hereceived atraveling grant from theUniversity ofVienna and
decided tostudy inParis withthefamous French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. 
Hespent 4months withCharcot, from whom helearned thehypnotic technique for
treating hysteria, adisorder typically characterized byparalysis ortheimproper func-
tioning ofcertain parts ofthebody. Through hypnosis, Freud became convinced ofa
psychogenic andsexual origin ofhysterical symptoms.
While stillamedical student, Freud developed aclose professional association 
andapersonal friendship withJosef Breuer, awell-known Viennese physician 14years 
older thanFreud andamanofconsiderable scientific reputation (Ferris, 1997). Breuer 
taught Freud about catharsis, theprocess ofremoving hysterical symptoms through 
“talking them out.” While using catharsis, Freud gradually andlaboriously discovered 
thefree association technique, which soon replaced hypnosis ashisprincipal therapeu -
tictechnique.
From asearly asadolescence, Freud literally dreamed ofmaking amonumental 
discovery andachieving fame (Newton, 1995). Onseveral occasions during the1880s 
and1890s hebelieved hewasontheverge ofsuchadiscovery. Hisfirstopportunity 
togainrecognition came in1884–1885 andinvolved hisexperiments withcocaine, 
which wediscussed intheopening vignette. 
Freud’s second opportunity forachieving some measure offame came in1886 
afterhereturned from Paris, where hehadlearned about male hysteria from Charcot. 
Heassumed thatthisknowledge would gainhimrespect andrecognition from the
Sigmund Freud withhisdaughter, Anna, whowasapsychoanalyst inherownright. 
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