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Notes Upon a Case of Obsessional Neurosis

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C пpилoжeна уникална тeтpадка-днeвник!
Бeлeжки oтнocнo eдин cлучай на натpаплива нeвpoза.

100 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1909

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About the author

Sigmund Freud

4,420 books8,471 followers
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.

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5 stars
86 (33%)
4 stars
94 (36%)
3 stars
61 (23%)
2 stars
13 (5%)
1 star
6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Adam.
423 reviews181 followers
September 23, 2018
Freud at his most fascinating. These case histories are rightfully epochal.
Profile Image for Soobie is expired.
7,169 reviews133 followers
May 5, 2019
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.

Profile Image for Blaze-Pascal.
306 reviews2 followers
June 25, 2022
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.
Profile Image for Petrus Forsgren.
145 reviews
June 18, 2025
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.
93 reviews19 followers
November 8, 2022
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sike.
1 review
August 20, 2024
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.
Profile Image for Arturo Guerra.
54 reviews
March 9, 2025
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.
Profile Image for Joel Zalam.
40 reviews
June 26, 2023
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
Profile Image for eijisimo.
64 reviews
July 25, 2023
He's so real. Something definitely moved. Can't wait to read more by him.
Profile Image for Subane.
356 reviews3 followers
September 7, 2023
• lu pour la psycho
• un cas intéressant pour comprendre la névrose obsessionnelle
Profile Image for Krysten.
20 reviews1 follower
November 16, 2024
takeaway: "Into his anus, I helped him out."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ju.
192 reviews1 follower
Read
November 17, 2024
Primeiro caso de Freud que eu li, e achei super interessante ver como a neurose obsessiva funciona e os sintomas.
Profile Image for Inez Yri.
24 reviews
September 14, 2025
det här är lite skumt men jag har läst den så många gånger nu? jag vet inte riktigt varför
Profile Image for Helen Lombard.
23 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2017
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...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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