TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION

WHEN one reviews the history of psychoanalysis + one
finds that it had its inception in the study of morbid
mental states. Beginning with the observation of
hysteria and the other neuroses? Professor Freud Å
gradually extended his investigations to normal
| psychology and evolved new concepts and new methods
of study. The neurotic symptoms were no longer
imaginary troubles the nature of which one could not

| grasp, but were conceived as mental and emotional
maladjustments to one's environment. The stamp of
degeneracy impressed upon neurotics by other schools.
of medicine was altogether eradicated. Deeper in- |
vestigation showed conclusively that a person might
become neurotic if subjected to certain environments,
and that there was no definite dividing line between.

i normal and abnormal. The hysterical symptoms,
| obsessions, doubts, phobias, as well as hallucinations of —
the insane, show the same mechanisms as those similar |
psychic structures which one constantly encounters in
normal persons in the form of mistakes in talking,

1 The History of the Psychoanalytic Movement, translated by
A. Å. Brill,
* Selected Papers on Hysteria and other Psychoneuroses, trans-
lated by A. A. Brill.
11

_ reading, writing, eme Qu and wit.
dream, always highly valued by the populace, and as
` much despised by the educated classes, has a definite.
structure and meaning when subjected to analysis.
Professor Freud's monumental work, The Interpreta-
tion of Dreams, marked a new epoch in the history of
mental science. One might use the same words in
reference to his profound analysis of wit.* ;
Faulty psychic actions, dreams, and wit are products.
of the unconscious mental activity, and like neurotic or
| psychotic manifestations represent efforts at adjust
ment to one’s environment. The slip of the ton;
shows that on account of unconscious inhibitions

f those wishes which are prohibited in the wa
states, and the witticism, owing to its veiled or indi

onflicts which the individual overcomes, the neuro
| ог psychotic symptom is the result of a failure a
presents a morbid adjustment.
The aforementioned psychic formations are me
| nothing but manifestations of the struggle with reality,
| the constant effort to adjust one's primitive feelings to |
The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, translated by A. A —
ill. 3

"3 Translated by A. A. Brill.
3 Wit and Its Relations to the Unconscious, translated by A. A.

edemssdsokcivxhzswnh spite of all later «
velopment the individual retains all his infantile psychic
structures. Nothing is lost; the infantile wishes ar
primitive impulses can always be demonstrated in the |
grown-up and on occasion can be brought back to the —
surface. In his dreams the normal person is constantly
reviving his childhood, and the neurotic or psychotic
individual merges back into a sort of psychic infantil -
ism through his morbid productions. The unconscioi
mental activity which is made up of repressed infantile
material for ever tries to express itself. Whenever th
individual finds it impossible to dominate the difficul

infantile, and psychic disturbances ensue which
conceived as peculiar thoughts and acts. Thus

childhood of races. The knowledge gained from
dream analysis and phantasies,* when applied to the
productions of racial phantasies, like myths and fairy
tales, seemed to indicate that the first impulse to form —
myths was due to the same emotional strivings which -

* Freud: Leonardo da Vinci, translated by A, A, Brill,
13

E

Es in this quu has roma! O Tight on our
t cultural institutions, such as religion, morality,
, and philosophy, all of which Professor Freud has |
modestly formulated in this volume and thus initiated a |
epoch in the study of racial psychology.
| I take great pleasure in acknowledging my indebted- |
ness to Mr. Alfred B. Kutiner for the invaluable
ssistance he rendered in the translation of this work,