Fragment of an Analysis Fragment of an Analysis of a Case of Hysteriaof a Case of Hysteria

(“Dora”)(“Dora”)

1901 / 19051901 / 1905

Hysteria — Hysteria —

……or actually:or actually:

““Female Female Hysteria”Hysteria”

““Female Female Hysteria”Hysteria”

• common medical diagnosis at the end of common medical diagnosis at the end of the 19the 19thth century century

• symptoms: faintness, nervousness, symptoms: faintness, nervousness, insomnia, fluid retention, heaviness in insomnia, fluid retention, heaviness in abdomen, muscle spasm, shortness of abdomen, muscle spasm, shortness of breath, irritability, loss of appetite for breath, irritability, loss of appetite for food or sex, and a "tendency to cause food or sex, and a "tendency to cause trouble“trouble“

• explained by stresses associated with explained by stresses associated with modern lifemodern life

• treatment: often by vaginal massagetreatment: often by vaginal massage

HysteriaHysteria

• beginning of 20th century—and partly beginning of 20th century—and partly thanks to Freud—the concept of “female thanks to Freud—the concept of “female hysteria” was replaced by “conversion hysteria” was replaced by “conversion hysteria”hysteria”

• ““conversion”: psychical conflicts are conversion”: psychical conflicts are converted into physical symptoms converted into physical symptoms

• ……which means that physical symptoms which means that physical symptoms have a have a meaningmeaning (which analysis seeks to unveil) (which analysis seeks to unveil)

HysteriaHysteria

• Josef Breuer & Sigmund Freud,Josef Breuer & Sigmund Freud,Studies on HysteriaStudies on Hysteria (1895): (1895):

At the origin of any case of hysteria there At the origin of any case of hysteria there is a is a psychical traumapsychical trauma. .

DoraDora

• 6 years: Father develops tuberculosis, 6 years: Father develops tuberculosis, family moves to “B______”family moves to “B______”

• 8 years: neurotic symptoms begin 8 years: neurotic symptoms begin (shortness of breath)(shortness of breath)

• 12 years: migraine, nervous coughing, 12 years: migraine, nervous coughing, loss of voiceloss of voice

• 14 years: Herr K. forces a kiss upon her; 14 years: Herr K. forces a kiss upon her; her reaction: disgusther reaction: disgust

• 16 years: the “scene by the lake” at 16 years: the “scene by the lake” at “L_____” (Herr K. makes a “proposal”—“L_____” (Herr K. makes a “proposal”—actually, a sexual advance on her)actually, a sexual advance on her)

Herr K. kisses 14-years-old DoraHerr K. kisses 14-years-old Dora

“…“…the behavior of this child of fourteen the behavior of this child of fourteen was already completely hysterical. I was already completely hysterical. I should without question consider a should without question consider a person hysterical in whom an occasion person hysterical in whom an occasion for sexual excitement elicited feelings for sexual excitement elicited feelings that were predominantly or exclusively that were predominantly or exclusively unpleasurable…”unpleasurable…”

Dora’s First DreamDora’s First Dream

A house was on fire. My father was A house was on fire. My father was standing behind my bed and woke me standing behind my bed and woke me up. I dressed quickly. Mother wanted up. I dressed quickly. Mother wanted to stop and save her jewel-case; but to stop and save her jewel-case; but Father said: “I refuse to let myself and Father said: “I refuse to let myself and my two children be burnt for the sake of my two children be burnt for the sake of your jewel-case.” We hurried your jewel-case.” We hurried downstairs, and as soon as I was downstairs, and as soon as I was outside I woke up. outside I woke up.

Freud’s questionsFreud’s questions

Dora has had that dream before (more Dora has had that dream before (more than once).than once).

When did it first occur?When did it first occur?