Freud and Jung

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

Chapter 1

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 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

“...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

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 a break from their lecture
tour—1908

Chapter 4

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.

The Final Chapter

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.

Another source of tension between the two was that Jung viewed Freud’s psychoanalysis as sexually repressive, and wanted to advocate for
greater sexual freedom. This was in direct confrontation to Freud, who wanted Jung to promise never to abandon the sexual theory. In

fact, he insisted that Jung make it unquestionable dogma. Jung was of the opinion that Freud was no longer using scientific judgement, and
wondered why he placed such an importance on sexuality.

A different sign of conflict came when Jung asked Freud what he made of parapsychology. Sigmund was a complete sceptic: occult phe-
nomena were to him a "black tide of mud". But as they were sitting talking, Jung's diaphragm began to feel hot. Suddenly, a bookcase in the

room cracked loudly and they both jumped up. "There, that is an example of a so-called catalytic exteriorisation phenomenon," Jung re-
torted – referring to his theory that the uncanny could be projections of internal strife. "Bosh!" Freud retorted, before Jung predicted that

there would be another crack, which there was.
Jung was also heading in a direction that Freud did not like with his research as he began looking at mysticism and occultism. He became
interested in gods, archetypes, thecollective unconscious, and the shadow side of man. He wanted Freud to join in to the crusade to con-
quer occultism. Freud, though he said that he did not wish to hold Jung back, also wanted nothing to do with it. By May of 1912, Freud had
begun to distance himself from Jung’s ideas. Finally on January 3, 1913 he wrote, “I propose we abandon our personal relations entirely.”

Jung considered Freud too reductionist. He could not accept that the main drive in human life is sexual. Instead, he defined libido more
broadly as psychic energy or life force, of which sexuality is just one manifestation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZNrxn5niyg

The clash of Freud of Jung in, as depicted in A Dangerous Method

The Final Chapter

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 famous letter where Freud breaks his
relationship with Jung—1913





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