Relating Freud and Jung

Articles in this Topic Discussions in this Topic

Nov 1, 1999

The relationship between Jung and Freud spanned just seven years, beginning with correspondence in 1906 that developed into 330 letters, as well as several face to face meetings. Although the two men never met again after 1912, the letters continued into 1913 when their relationship was terminated by Jung. Those seven years, however, were quite influential in dream theory.

Jung was long said to be exposed and involved, in paranormal activities; an altogether unsurprising fact considering that his mother and maternal grandmother have both been described as psychic to some extent. His studies with Helene Preiswick, a spiritualist medium were utilized as material for Jung's medical dissertation. This was just one area of rift that developed between Jung and Freud, who had a sarcastic and unbelieving attitude toward paranormal events, and was quite vocal about their implausibility calling them part of Jung's "spook-complex".

Another alienating rift occurred in 1909 when Freud wrote a letter to Jung saying that he had "formally adopted" him "as an eldest son" as well as "anointing" Jung his "crown prince". While to some followers of Freudian thought this may have seemed complimentary, Jung had grown up with a very ambivalent, unsatisfying relationship with his own father. Freud's increasingly patronizing attitude instead seemed to be seeking the establishment of authority over Jung.

These two factors, and the constant theoretical disagreements between the two men led to the decline of their relationship. However, it was a discussion on dreams were Jung realized that the relationship could not be brought to a collegiate level of amenability. This occurred as early as 1909 when the two were on a seven-week trip in the United States. Jung had asked Freud to expand on the personal details of a dream in order to better understand them. Freud refused this request and when asked why, stated "I cannot risk my own authority". Here again, Jung found Freud asserting authority, and taking it over the pursuit of truth.

Their correspondence continued into 1913, but consisted mainly of argumentative discourse. Once the relationship was terminated, Freud openly criticized Jung as being unable to tolerate authority, and minimized Jung's contributions to both psychoanalysis and dream theory. Jung, however, in his autobiography instead praised and acknowledged Freud and his achievements as well as recognizing him as a mentor to his own work.

Both Carl Gustav Jung and Sigmund Freud have their staunch supporters today. Both contributed markedly to dream theory and their individual theories are the basis for much of today's work in dreams. Their heated correspondence of 1906-1913 and their face to face meetings were but history in the making, but history that should not be ignored as we explore

Go To Page: 1 2

The copyright of the article Relating Freud and Jung in Dream Interpretation is owned by . Permission to republish Relating Freud and Jung in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.