L'uomo dei topi: Osservazioni su un caso di nevrosi ossessiva

by Sigmund Freud, Renata Colorni (Translator), Mauro Lucentini (Translator)

«L'idea del topo è inseparabilmente collegata con il fatto che esso morde e rode con i suoi denti aguzzi; ma si i topi mordono, sono sozzi e voraci, non possono restare impuniti; gli uomini li perseguitano e massacrano senza pietà, come il paziente aveva talvolta visto fare, inorridendone. Spesso aveva provato un senso di commiserazione per quelle povere bestie. Ora, egli stesso era stato una volta un piccolo monellaccio disgustoso e sporco, che nella rabbia sapeva mordere chi gli stava vicino, ricevendone poi tremende punizioni. Ben poteva ravvisare nel "topo" il suo sosia.»

«Sarebbe assai auspicabile che quei filosofi e quegli psicologi che elaborano brillanti teorie sull'inconscio basandosi sul sentito dire e sulle loro definizioni convenzionali, cominciassero col rifarsi alle impressioni fondamentali che si possono ricavare dalle manifestazioni del pensiero ossessivo; si potrebbe quasi esigerlo, se non si trattasse di un compito molto più faticoso dei metodi di lavoro a cui essi sono avvezzi.»

Sigmund Freud

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Psychoanalysis, Classics

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1909

About the author

Dr. Sigismund Freud (later changed to Sigmund) was a neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, who created an entirely new approach to the understanding of the human personality. He is regarded as one of the most influential—and controversial—minds of the 20th century.

In 1873, Freud began to study medicine at the University of Vienna. After graduating, he worked at the Vienna General Hospital. He collaborated with Josef Breuer in treating hysteria by the recall of painful experiences under hypnosis. In 1885, Freud went to Paris as a student of the neurologist Jean Charcot. On his return to Vienna the following year, Freud set up in private practice, specialising in nervous and brain disorders. The same year he married Martha Bernays, with whom he had six children.

Freud developed the theory that humans have an unconscious in which sexual and aggressive impulses are in perpetual conflict for supremacy with the defences against them. In 1897, he began an intensive analysis of himself. In 1900, his major work 'The Interpretation of Dreams' was published in which Freud analysed dreams in terms of unconscious desires and experiences.

In 1902, Freud was appointed Professor of Neuropathology at the University of Vienna, a post he held until 1938. Although the medical establishment disagreed with many of his theories, a group of pupils and followers began to gather around Freud. In 1910, the International Psychoanalytic Association was founded with Carl Jung, a close associate of Freud's, as the president. Jung later broke with Freud and developed his own theories.

After World War One, Freud spent less time in clinical observation and concentrated on the application of his theories to history, art, literature and anthropology. In 1923, he published 'The Ego and the Id', which suggested a new structural model of the mind, divided into the 'id, the 'ego' and the 'superego'.

In 1933, the Nazis publicly burnt a number of Freud's books. In 1938, shortly after the Nazis annexed Austria, Freud left Vienna for London with his wife and daughter Anna.

Freud had been diagnosed with cancer of the jaw in 1923, and underwent more than 30 operations. He died of cancer on 23 September 1939.

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freud at his most fascinating. These case histories are rightfully epochal.

[Pieter De Wijngaert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siggy op dreef

[Soobie is expired · Rating 4 out of 5]

A parte che mi sembra un'eresia dare una valutazione in stelline a Freud...

Com'è che Soobie è arrivata a Freud?

Da brava liceale, l'aveva studiato a scuola durante le ore di filosofia. Una sola pagina di appunti lo rendevano uno degli autori più "semplici" da studiare. Per anni ha anche tenuto un diario dei sogni, ma non avrebbe mai pensato di leggere le sue opere.

Poi, un giorno, una delle sue allieve arriva dicendo che deve scrivere un saggio di tre pagine a computer su Freud entro il 17 maggio. E per farlo si è portata a casa, oltre all'Interpretazione dei sogni, tutti i Casi clinici. Soobie sa benissimo che la ragazzina, primo anno dell'istituto per operatori sociali, non è in grado di farlo. Durante l'ora passata con lei, si mette a leggere L'uomo dei topi e s'incuriosisce.

Oggi parlo di me in terza persona... ^__^

Sì, insomma, l'ho letto perché devo aiutare la ragazzina a scrivere il suo saggio. Solo che sembra che la prof non sia stata molto chiara e né io, né lei sappiamo bene cosa scriverci in queste tre pagine. Ma intanto mi son portata avanti.

Ho scelto L'uomo dei topi per il titolo, soprattutto. Anche perché a me i topolini piacciono molto. E poi, perché dopo aver letto le prime pagine - quelle in cui Freud si focalizza sulla sessualità del paziente da giovane - mi ero incuriosita parecchio.

Allora, da un lato faccio fatica a credere a tutte le connessioni che Freud rileva sulla storia e sui comportamenti del suo paziente. Dall'altro, è innegabile che il discorso scorra che è una meraviglia.

Faccio fatica a comprendere le ossessioni del paziente ma penso ciò si dovuto al fatto che non credo di aver ossessioni mie. Nel senso che i racconti del paziente erano così intorgolati che non mi potevo riconoscere.

Ma il discorso è interessante e adesso vado a prendere in prestito anche gli altri casi clinici dalla ragazzina.

[Blaze-Pascal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful case study of Freud (these are quite delightful) where he is exploring the obsessional neuroses of the 'Rat Man' (as he has come to be known). What I am focusing on, is how Freud is distinguishing hysteria from obsessional neuroses. He is exploring the unconscious ways that obsessive thought structures come to be symptomatic illnesses in the later life of the analysand.

I am also very interested in 'ambivalence' and how it plays into neuroses.

Quite readable, and enjoyable insight into neuroses.

[Büşra]

inanılmaz bir libido

[Quinn Monette]

fair warning to my friends, i'm going all-in on the hermeneutics of suspicion

[dostoyevskaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

sometimes I feel like it’s just Freud and me against the world

[Petrus Forsgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rat Man – A case of obsessive-compulsive neurosis by Sigmund Freud (1909), about the patient Ernst Lanzer (1878-1914) who was his patient for a short period (1907-1908). The case then built on Freud's psychoanalytic development of theories such as unconscious conflicts, neuroticism and ambiguity in love or hate, among others. The Rat Man sought help from Freud because of neurosis (experiencing strong emotions, anxiety, worry, stress). The background was found in childhood and unresolved conflicts. Why he was called the Rat Man was because of the strong associations with rats (Fear and fascination), also a telling story a military friend told him. Also to his father and fallen women. The man experienced a strong love for his father (Mainly appreciation in older age – for example, for his thrift, his loyalty to the family) but also hatred for him (mainly from a young age – for example, for having been hit and denied his sexuality as a child). Shakespeare is quoted in the book as an example of this human, often overlooked, duality;

“When Caesar loved me, I wept for him; when he was happy I was pleased with it; when he was brave I honored him, but when he was domineering I killed him”

Unconscious conflicts are things that emerge from childhood or habitual patterns where the conscious opposes its unconscious sides in certain situations. In the Rat Man's case, it was often in relation to authoritarian people that he shadowed back (Fear despite often being equal in rank with the other) or in terms of money (no control over money, large sums meant just as much as small ones). After the treatment, the man's well-being improved. The book is structured in first a timeline of the man's life, then diary entries of conversations by Freud, followed by analysis, then references to literature or explanations of concepts. An easy-to-read book that was fascinating to read.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un monument théorique, une étiologie de la névrose obsessionnelle et des explications fluides des processus psychiques mis en place par les obsessionnels mais avec par moments des interprétations un peu tirées par les cheveux en ce qui concerne le cas clinique principal à mon sens.

[Sike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fundamental in basis but heavily lacking insights in more profound understanding of life.

That's Freud - fundamental and raw, very narrow and materialistic in view.

All in all, still a solid 3 stars.

[Arturo Guerra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Durante questo viaggio nell'inconscio di un paziente nevrotico, Freud riesce a dare luce e chiarezza ai conflitti inconsci di amore e odio che l'essere umano nutre nei confronti delle figure genitoriali e affettive.

[Cvetannka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rat Man is a case of 'Obsessional Neurosis'.

[Maggie]

Reminds me of my crush

[Joel Zalam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mñe. Fuí obligado a leerlo (necesito aprobar la materia._.), es medio pesado, como historia tiene algunas cosas interesantes, pero como eses totalmente pseudociencia no puedo evitar sentir asquito XD

[eijisimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

He's so real. Something definitely moved. Can't wait to read more by him.

[Subane · Rating 3 out of 5]

• lu pour la psycho
• un cas intéressant pour comprendre la névrose obsessionnelle

[salsa valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siggy mi papá 🫦🫦

[Krysten · Rating 5 out of 5]

takeaway: "Into his anus, I helped him out."

[ju]

Primeiro caso de Freud que eu li, e achei super interessante ver como a neurose obsessiva funciona e os sintomas.

[Ido Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

🍑 🐀

[Inez Yri · Rating 5 out of 5]

det här är lite skumt men jag har läst den så många gånger nu? jag vet inte riktigt varför

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

que pesada esta mina

[Helen Lombard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alors, en choisissant ce livre, je me suis basée uniquement sur le titre. "Ah génial, l'histoire d'un gars qui fait une obsession sur les rats, ça va être bizarre, ça va être génial."
Pas du tout.
Un classique de la psychanalyse, mais moi qui espérait un cas hallucinant, j'ai été déçue. Donc oui, d'accord, on apprend sur la psyché humaine (enfin, on en apprend ce que Freud avait compris ou cru comprendre), mais ce n'est pas le cas grandiose que j'attendais.
Après, je dis ça, la psychanalyse je n'y connais rien à part les livres...