Freud's relationship with Josef Popper-Lynkeus, a man whom he highly esteemed but never met, is examined in the light of the

link between narcissistic transformations and psychological creativity. Although Freud idealized Popper's psychological insights and the saintliness of his personality, he took no steps to have his convictions about Popper challenged by reality. Indeed, he feared that if he actually met Popper he would be disappointed as he had been on numerous other occasions, when confronted by the lack of comprehension of men whom he admired. In addition, Popper, like Schnitzler, was an "alter ego" or "double" for Freud, an aspect of his own self which had to be kept at a judicious distance. Freud could acknowledge the greatness of Popper and their similarity from afar, but he avoided a confrontation which might disturb the idealization or bring about a sense of the uncanny.