Site Map: MAIN / A Reader's Journal, Vol. 2 This Page

A READER'S JOURNAL:

Dora
by
Sigmund Freud
An Analysis of a Case of Hysteria
Published 1973 by Collier Books

A Book Review by Bobby Matherne, Copyright 1987


Google
Web www.doyletics.com

Like Us? Subscribe to Receive a Monthly Email
Reminder of New Reviews & New DIGESTWORLD Issues — CLICK


~^~

This was an early and incomplete case (only three months long) of hysteria that Freud treated. It began with a long introduction in which he apologizes in advance for the frankness of his discussion of the delicacies of sex, but insists boldly that he will always "call a cat a cat." The exact phrase he uses is in french, "J'appelle un chat un chat." In french "chat" is the equivalent of the American word "pussy" which jocularly refers to a woman's "vagina." Can this be the primeval Freudian slip?

The case history involves a complicated set of liaisons of Dora, her father, her mother, Mr. K., Mrs. K., and the governess. Of course, at the point of therapy it includes Dr. F. also. Dora's father is humping Mrs. K. and Mr. K. is trying to hump Dora, who, after a childhood of trying to replace her mother in her father's affections, is now in a position to replace Mrs. K. (Dora's father's new love) in Mr. K's affections. To this basic plot, add a man-hating governess, a large helping of bed-wetting and masturbation, a couple of dreams, and a walk around the lake, and you have the entire book.

Top it off with a discussion of formulas governing hysteria and an explanation of transference for good measure. My short definition of transference - a reprint of old issues on new stock.

Here is an interesting quote from the book:

It is true that the symptoms do not disappear while the work is proceeding; but they disappear a little while later, when the relations between the patient and physician have dissolved.

This helps explain why Milton Erickson kept his clients writing to him for years after the therapy sessions had ended — he knew that the final work would get done after his clients had considered the therapy over.

It also indicates the importance of the selection of an end-of-therapy test — if the therapist selects complete removal of symptoms as the test to signal the end of therapy, in psychoanalysis, there would be no ending — which, come to think of it, there is none. The client leaves by making a decision to take over the completion — sans therapist.




~^~




Any questions about this review, Contact: Bobby Matherne

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

== == == == == == == == == == == == == == == ==
22+ Million Good Readers have Liked Us
22,454,155 as of November 7, 2019
  Mo-to-Date Daily Ave 5,528 Readers  
For Monthly DIGESTWORLD Email Reminder:
Subscribe
! You'll Like Us, Too!

== == == == == == == == == == == == == == == ==

Click Left Photo for List of All ARJ2 Reviews      Click Right Bookcover for Next Review in List
Did you Enjoy this Webpage?
Subscribe to the Good Mountain Press Digest: Click Here!

Google
Web www.doyletics.com

CLICK ON FLAGS TO OPEN OUR FIRST-AID KIT.

All the tools you need for a simple Speed Trace IN ONE PLACE.

Do you feel like you're swimming against a strong current in your life? Are you fearful? Are you seeing red? Very angry? Anxious? Feel down or upset by everyday occurrences? Plagued by chronic discomforts like migraine headaches? Have seasickness on cruises? Have butterflies when you get up to speak? Learn to use this simple 21st Century memory technique. Remove these unwanted physical body states, and even more, without surgery, drugs, or psychotherapy, and best of all: without charge to you.

Simply CLICK AND OPEN the FIRST-AID KIT.



Counselor? Visit the Counselor's Corner for Suggestions on Incorporating Doyletics in Your Work.


All material on this webpage Copyright 2019 by Bobby Matherne