Freud’s Secret Society: Political Power and the Foundations of Psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud is often regarded as a pioneer in the field of psychology, especially in the treatment of mental disorders. He is an Austrian neurologist who was established in Vienna and became one of the most popular figures in psychology. Freud believed that humans have an unconscious mind where they hide or repress thoughts, memories, and desires that are too painful, shameful, or anxiety-provoking to face consciously. He proposed the idea of the unconscious mind. The present actions or thoughts are the product of childhood experiences or hidden desires, repressed urges we are not aware of.

It is the core of his work on the human mind. Freud believed that dreams, slips of the tongue (which he called Freudian slips), and even seemingly odd or unconscious behaviours were all windows into the unconscious mind. Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis was foundational for the modern psychodynamic approach to understanding human behaviour. His focus on uncovering hidden, often repressed desires and conflicts in the unconscious mind set the stage for later developments in psychology.

Read More: Sigmund Freud and His Contributions in Psychology

Origin of The secret of rings 

In 1902, the world’s first psychoanalytic society was founded by Freud’s colleagues. This society marked the beginning of formal discussions and organised study of psychoanalysis. Few people joined the circle who were interested in discussing and learning about psychoanalysis. Freud began the Wednesday Psychological Society (also known as the Wednesday Group) in 1902 as an informal gathering of like-minded colleagues. By 1913, Freud had gained enough support to form a more formal and structured organisation, the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, to promote psychoanalysis as both a scientific discipline and a therapeutic practice.

In addition to founding the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, Freud also established a secret committee to organise and strengthen the psychoanalytic movement. This committee’s goal was to structure the movement more formally by organising educational initiatives, publishing works, and ensuring psychoanalysis could withstand external criticism and gain wider acceptance as a legitimate field of study.

At a time when Freud faced opposition from the medical community, the general public, and even some of his followers, such as Carl Jung, he created this small, focused group to help publicise and promote psychoanalysis. The committee was designed to operate in a more organised, formal manner to advance the cause of psychoanalysis.

In later times, it also became popular with the name of the secret of rings. Freud had given a special ring of friendship to each member. Phyllis Grosskurth wrote a book named “The Secret Ring”, which tells a story of politics, ideology and manipulation in psychoanalysis, and how, through the activities of this committee, the foundations of international psychoanalysis were laid down.

Read More: Sigmund Freud’s 5 Most Important Contributions to Psychology

Purpose and Vision 

One of the main motivations behind the establishment of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society and the formation of the secret committee was indeed to monitor Carl Jung’s growing independence and activities, which were beginning to challenge Freud’s authority and the core principles of psychoanalysis.

Carl Jung Vs Sigmund Freud 

Freud’s work was in opposition to competing psychotherapy theories, particularly those developed by Alfred Adler and Carl Jung. After reading Freud’s work, Jung became strongly connected to him and sought further collaboration. As a result, Jung quickly rose to prominence within the psychoanalytic movement and became the president of the International Psychoanalytical Association.

However, over time, significant differences emerged between Freud and Jung, especially regarding their views on the unconscious mind and sexuality. While Freud emphasised sexuality as the core of psychoanalysis, Jung’s perspective on the unconscious mind was very different.

Jung proposed that the unconscious was not just a personal realm but had a collective aspect, shared by all humans. According to Jung, every individual has access to a common psychic realm, which he called the collective unconscious. This concept contrasts sharply with Freud’s belief that the unconscious was primarily shaped by personal experiences, especially those involving sexuality and repressed desires.

These differing views on the unconscious and sexuality ultimately led to a profound split between Freud and Jung, each developing their distinct theories: Freud’s psychoanalysis and Jung’s analytical psychology. 

The members of the Inner Circle: the Secret Committee 

The original members of the secret committee 

• Karl Abraham (Founding President of the Berlin Psychoanalytic Society, physician) 
• Max Eitingon (physician and facilitator of the establishment of the U.S. Psychoanalytic Quarterly) 
• Sandor Ferenczi (Founder of the Hungarian Psychoanalytic Society and physician)
• Ernest Jones (Physician and Founder of the British Psycho-Analytical Society)
• Otto Rank (Cofounder of the Verlag, the publishing house) 
• Hanns Sachs (Silent partner) 
• Anton von Freund (Adjunct member) 

They all worked in the committee for promotion of psychoanalysis such as organizing conferences, publishing numerous work, guiding psychoanalysis movement internationally. 

Agenda of the secret committee 

1. The scholarly agenda was the promotion of Freud’s theories. So, they had started Psychoanalytic societies in numerous countries. A regular program of national and international scientific congresses and conventions was maintained. The group members served as journal founders, editors, and manuscript reviewers. They established publishing houses. 
2. The agenda was also activated for political benefits. 
3. Individual members of the Secret Ring supported philanthropic causes related to psychoanalysis. 

Criticism 

There were followers involved in these activities, but they had also exhibited opposite points of view on well-known theories of psychoanalysis. Many people were perceiving the committee as too secretive. The group has control over all the newly emerging sources of thoughts, so it was obstructing the growth of new ideas, thoughts. They also pushed aside the new theories from thinkers and separated people with different perspectives, like Carl Jung’s analytical Psychology and Alfred Adler’s psychology. They had been accused of controlling access and dominating. 

Conclusion 

Freuds’s secret inner circle which turns into the secret society was formed to safeguard and preserve the fundamental theories of psychoanalysis. The society maintained the course of action through which it operated their publishing houses, appointments, conferences, meetings. Because of society, the psychoanalysis movement became a respectable movement but it also created conflicts among other schools of psychology. 

FAQs 

1. What is Freud’s main theory? 

Sigmund Freud’s most famous theory is psychoanalysis. It came up with the principle and it explains that the human psyche is made up of the id, ego, and superego, and that unconscious drives influence behavior. He also developed the idea of defense mechanisms as ways to cope with anxiety and the stages of psychosexual development to explain personality formation. 

2. Who were the disciples of Freud? 

Carl Jung, Stekel, Ferenczi, Alfred Adler ,Fliess, and Jones 

3. How does Carl Jung differ from Freud? 

Freud’s main focus was on the unconscious, sexuality, and aggression contrasts with Jung’s focus on the collective unconscious, spirituality. Jung took a universal and spiritual approach to understanding human behaviour.