Artifact_Diers

The story of a friendship that put the unconscious on the map

Sarah Diers
Florida State University

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Once upon a time in 1906, there lived two psychologists who were
pioneers in the psychoanalytic movement—
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.

It was during that time that these two began what was a brief,
yet intimate and strong, friendship.

Their friendship started when Jung had sent Freud copies of his
published work. Little did he know that Freud had already purchased
his own copy of Jung’s book! Freud then sent Jung a collection of his

essays. They continued to communicate by means of a series of
meetings and correspondences.

A friendship was in the making!

Freud and Jung celebrating Jung’s birthday—1906

Chapter 2: A Special Friendship

“...extremely intelligent,
shrewd, and altogether
remarkable” -Jung

Freud and Jung fishing halibut—1909

Freud and Jung became fast friends.

They first met in person in 1907 when Jung traveled to Vienna.

Their first conversation was said to have lasted over 13 hours!

Freud viewed Jung as a protégé, and he became a father figure
to Jung.

In one letter to Jung , Freud wrote,

“I formally adopt you as eldest son and anoint you...as my successor
and crown prince.”

Freud referred to Jung as,

“The Joshua to my Moses, fated to enter the Promised Land
which I myself will not live to see.”

Chapter 3: The American Journey

In 1908, Freud and Jung traveled to the United States to introduce
psychoanalysis to America.

Jung delivered a series of lectures at Fordham University that
discussed the future of his work in psychoanalysis.

It was during these lectures that Jung publicly separated himself
from the theories of his dear friend and colleague.

Their divergence in thinking dramatically affected their
friendship, and was ultimately the cause of their separation.

Their professional and personal differences made it
impossible to continue.

Freud and Jung enjoying some down time from their
lecture tour—1908

Chapter 4: The Truth is Revealed

Freud and Jung travelling the rails
in America—1908

The two spent months touring America, which marks the time in their
friendship where they were closest.

The close contact and conversations revealed their distinct viewpoints
about the concepts of the unconscious.

Jung disagreed with much of Freud’s theories—he thought Freud’s
views of the unconscious were

“incomplete and unnecessarily negative”

Jung believed Freud perceived the unconscious solely as a

“repository of repressed emotions and desires”

Freud was unhappy with Jung’s disagreement with the basic concepts
of Freudian theory.

Chapter 5: Irreconcilable Differences

Jung did not agree with Freud’s psychoanalytic sexual drive
theory, as he advocated for greater sexual freedom.

In fact, Jung questioned Freud’s scientific judgment and wondered
why he placed such an emphasis on sexuality as a main drive in
human life; rather, Jung defined libido more broadly as a form of

psychic energy, of which sexuality is just one component.

Jung became a proponent of parapsychology, and began
exploring the ideas of mysticism, occultism, and paranormal

phenomena. Freud was a complete sceptic to these ideas.

Jung developed his theory of synchronicity, which suggests that
events are “meaningful coincidences” if they do not have a causal

relationship, yet seem to be meaningfully related.
Essentially, the cause of events do not need to have an

explanation if they are connected by meaning.

Jung used this concept to justify the paranormal, and Freud wanted
nothing to do with it.

“A catalytic exteriorisation phenomenon!”

-A Dangerous Method

The Final Chapter

The famous letter where Freud breaks his
relationship with Jung—1913

After 6 years and over 350 letters, the following are some of Freud’s
final written words to Jung:

“ It is a convention among us analysts that none of us need feel ashamed
of his own neurosis. But one who while behaving abnormally keeps

shouting that he is normal gives ground for the suspicion that he lacks insight
into his illness.

Accordingly, I propose that we abandon our personal relations entirely.”

“I shall lose nothing by it, for my own emotional tie with you has been a
long thin thread – the lingering effect of past disappointments.”

-Freud, 1912

The End

Jung and Freud met for the last time in September of 1913 at an
international psychoanalytical conference.

During this conference, Jung presented his work in analytical
psychology. His talk introduced the differing concepts of Jung and

Freud, which came to distinguish their work for years to follow.

Although both were deeply saddened by the loss of their
friendship, their years together significantly contributed to their

future work in the field of psychoanalysis.

The concepts and theories that they worked on together and apart

have lived happily every after.



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