Psychoanalysis is experiencing a notable resurgence, with Instagram accounts devoted to Freudian theory attracting nearly 1.5 million followers. Shows like Orna Guralnik’s “Couples Therapy” have captivated audiences, while think pieces in prominent publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian proclaim the revival of this intellectual movement. As Joseph Bernstein of The New York Times succinctly put it: “Sigmund Freud is enjoying something of a comeback.”
This resurgence might surprise many, given that psychoanalysis—the therapeutic practice initiated by Freud in 1900 Vienna—has faced skepticism in scientific circles for decades. Particularly in the English-speaking world, the rise of behavioral psychology and a booming pharmaceutical industry have relegated long-form talking therapies like psychoanalysis to the sidelines.
However, the story is more nuanced on a global scale. During Freud’s lifetime, 15 psychoanalytic institutes were established worldwide, including locations in Norway, Palestine, South Africa, and Japan. Throughout the 20th century, psychoanalysis thrived in various regions, from Paris to Buenos Aires and São Paulo to Tel Aviv. In Argentina, the practice is so prevalent that residents joke about the impossibility of boarding a flight to Buenos Aires without encountering at least one analyst.
The varying popularity of psychoanalysis across countries can be linked to historical contexts, particularly the 20th-century Jewish diaspora. As the Third Reich expanded, numerous Jewish psychoanalysts fled central Europe, reshaping cultural landscapes in cities like London. Additionally, the rise of authoritarian regimes has often coincided with increased interest in psychoanalysis. Its principles became especially resonant during political crises.
In Argentina, for instance, the transition from left-wing authoritarian Peronism to a US-backed “dirty war” led to widespread abduction and disappearance of around 30,000 dissenters. In a climate of loss, fear, and silence, psychoanalysis emerged as a vital tool for addressing trauma. In such oppressive environments, creating a therapeutic space for dialogue became a form of resistance against state-sponsored violence.
Freud’s early followers employed similar tactics. Figures like Wilhelm Reich, Otto Fenichel, Theodor Adorno, and Erich Fromm viewed psychoanalysis, often blended with Marxist theory, as essential to understanding the roots of authoritarian personalities amidst the horrors of fascism.
In Algeria, the psychiatrist Frantz Fanon used psychoanalysis as a framework to critique oppressive colonial regimes. For these thinkers, psychoanalysis played a crucial role in political resistance, a theme that appears increasingly relevant today as authoritarianism resurfaces globally.
A tool for making sense of the senseless
Psychoanalysts like Mark Solms are reestablishing relevance for the field by linking it to contemporary neuroscience. In his book, “The Only Cure: Freud and the Neuroscience of Mental Healing,” Solms argues that Freud’s theories regarding the unconscious hold validity based on recent scientific findings. He posits that while pharmaceutical interventions may provide temporary relief, only psychoanalytic treatments offer long-term solutions.
Solms is among a growing number of clinician-intellectuals revitalizing psychoanalysis. Others, including Jamieson Webster, Patricia Gherovici, and Lara Sheehi, emphasize the discipline’s political urgency. Their work illustrates how psychoanalysis can elucidate modern complexities, providing insights that other theories often overlook.
In an era marked by rapid commercialization, psychoanalysis challenges superficial definitions of value. It emphasizes long-term contemplation amid dwindling attention spans and advocates for the significance of human creativity in a landscape increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. Additionally, it interrogates conventional notions of gender and sexuality, focusing on personal experiences of suffering and desire.
The current interest in psychoanalysis mirrors historical patterns of its previous popularity. In times of political turmoil and collective distress, the discipline offers frameworks for interpreting chaos and understanding how authoritarian tendencies can permeate individual psyches and societal structures.
Moreover, as quick-fix solutions and pharmaceutical options gain traction in mental health care, psychoanalysis underscores the importance of deeply engaging with human complexity, thereby resisting reductionist approaches. It treats each individual’s internal landscape as worthy of profound exploration.
As the collective fascination with psychoanalysis continues, it prompts the field itself to evolve. Outdated assumptions about therapist neutrality and normative heterosexuality are increasingly challenged. The practice is being reimagined in conjunction with social justice movements, indicating a significant shift in how psychoanalysis is perceived and utilized.
Whether this renaissance will endure remains uncertain. However, as political and social crises intensify, the insights of Freud and his successors are finding new audiences eager to navigate the complexities of contemporary existence.
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