Freud's 'Outstanding' Colleague/Jung's 'Twin Brother' : The Suppressed Psychoanalytic and Political Significance of Otto Gross

Otto Gross was the first analyst to link his work with radical politics, connecting inner, personal transformation with outer, collective change. Since his death in 1920 his work has been suppressed, despite his seminal influence on the developing analytic discipline and on the fields of sociology, philosophy and literature. Here Gottfried M. Heuer introduces Gross’ life and ideas, using an innovative, historiographic methodology he terms __trans-historical:__ a psychoanalytic, intersubjective, and trans-temporal approach to the past, aimed at ‘healing wounded history’ in the present. Heuer considers several previously unpublished sources to explore Gross’s ideas and legacy as well as his unusually bohemian life. His use of the anarchist concept of mutuality to develop a relational and intersubjective approach in his own analytic theory and clinical practice was unique, and his work had a lasting, yet unacknowledged, influence on Freud, Jung (with whom he had the first recorded mutual analysis) and many other analysts. His ideas were appropriated by Max Weber, the founder of sociology, and by the philosopher Martin Buber, playing a pivotal role in what we now call ‘modernity’. Heuer also explores Gross’s paradigmatic father/son battle with his father Hans, who established the science of criminology, and touches upon Gross’s links to the literary field of the early 20^th^ century via Kafka, Werfel, et al., German expressionism and the Dada-movement, as well as the Anglo-American world through the work of D. H. Lawrence. This innovative, multi-faceted approach to Gross’s work and its influence marks a turning point, putting him firmly on the map of the historiography of analysis as well as linking this field with the neighbouring disciplines of the history of law and criminology, literature, sociology and philosophy. In addition, Gross continuing relevance for leading edge clinical and political ideas is addressed. This book will be essential reading for Jungian and Freudian analysts, psychotherapists and counsellors, academics and students of analysis, politics, history, criminology and sociology. Otto Gross was the first analyst to link his work with radical politics, connecting inner, personal transformation with outer, collective change. Since his death in 1920 his work has been suppressed, despite his seminal influence on the developing analytic discipline and on the fields of sociology, philosophy and literature. Here Gottfried M. Heuer introduces Gross’ life and ideas, using an innovative, historiographic methodology he terms trans-historical: a psychoanalytic, intersubjective, and trans-temporal approach to the past, aimed at ‘healing wounded history’ in the present. Heuer considers several previously unpublished sources to explore Gross’s ideas and legacy as well as his unusually bohemian life. His use of the anarchist concept of mutuality to develop a relational and intersubjective approach in his own analytic theory and clinical practice was unique, and his work had a lasting, yet unacknowledged, influence on Freud, Jung (with whom he had the first recorded mutual analysis) and many other analysts. His ideas were appropriated by Max Weber, the founder of sociology, and by the philosopher Martin Buber, playing a pivotal role in what we now call ‘modernity’. Heuer also explores Gross’s paradigmatic father/son battle with his father Hans, who established the science of criminology, and touches upon Gross’s links to the literary field of the early 20 th century via Kafka, Werfel, et al., German expressionism and the Dada-movement, as well as the Anglo-American world through the work of D. H. Lawrence. This innovative, multi-faceted approach to Gross’s work and its influence marks a turning point, putting him firmly on the map of the historiography of analysis as well as linking this field with the neighbouring disciplines of the history of law and criminology, literature, sociology and philosophy. In addition, Gross continuing relevance for leading edge clinical and political ideas is addressed. This book will be essential reading for Jungian and Freudian analysts, psychotherapists and counsellors, academics and students of analysis, politics, history, criminology and sociology. Freud’s ‘Outstanding’ Colleague/Jung’s ‘Twin Brother’- Front Cover 1 Freud’s ‘Outstanding’ Colleague/Jung’s ‘Twin Brother’ 4 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Dedication 8 Contents 10 Figures 12 About the author 14 Acknowledgements 15 Preface 17 Introduction: news of an unknown 20 Chapter 1: ‘Healing wounded history’ – Looking back to the future: A trans-historical, intersubjective, psychoanalytic and sacral-political methodology 24 A note on style 42 A note on ethics 44 Note 45 Chapter 2: Author and subject 46 1. 47 2. 57 Notes 61 Chapter 3: Psychoanalysis politicized and sacralized 62 I. Psychoanalytic historiography 63 II. The work of Otto Gross 68 Clinical practice 69 Psychoanalytic theory 76 III. Gross’s influence on the development of psychoanalytical theory and clinical practice 84 Otto Gross and Sigmund and Anna Freud 85 Otto Gross and Carl Gustav Jung 92 Gross’s influence on Jung’s life and psychology 105 Dementia praecox/schizophrenia 111 Unus mundus and the numinous 122 Alfred Adler 124 Otto Gross and Sándor Ferenczi 125 Nicholas Trigant Burrow’s mutual analysis 126 Otto Gross, Vittorio Benussi and Dorian Feigenbaum 131 Otto Gross and Wilhelm Reich 133 Chapter 4: Revolutionary politics, ensouled 138 Chapter 5: Philosophical origins: revolutionary politics, psychology and the sacred 165 Chapter 6: Otto Gross: a brief life 178 Otto Gross’s descendants 199 Chapter 7: Echoes and traces: the suppression of Otto Gross and ‘the return of the repressed’ 205 I. Contemporary Voices 208 II. From 1920 to the Millennium 208 III. Exclusions, or ‘There is a vacancy in history.’ 212 IV. Continuing echoes 214 Note 219 Chapter 8: Conclusion 220 Desiderata 221 Appendix: Mendrisio, Spring 1911 230 References 238 Abbreviations 238 Index 263 The suppressed psychoanalytic and political significance of Otto Gross Acknowledgements -- Preface -- Introduction: News Of An Unknown -- Healing Wounded History : Looking Back To The Future : A Trans-historical, Intersubjective, Psychoanalytic, And Sacral-political Methodology -- Author And Subject -- Psychoanalysis Politicized And Sacralized -- Psychoanalytic Historiography -- The Work Of Otto Gross -- Gross's Influence On The Development Of Psychoanalytical Theory And Clinical Practice -- Revolutionary Politics, Ensouled -- Philosophical Origins : Revolutionary Politics, Psychology And The Sacred -- Otto Gross : A Brief Life -- Echoes And Traces : The Suppression Of Otto Gross And The Return Of The Repressed -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Mendrisio, Spring1911 -- Bibliography -- Index. Gottfried M. Heuer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.