Freud's Antipathy to America

Without a question, Freud had an antipathy toward the United States that in many ways was prejudicial and irrational. By all rights, he should have felt mainly positive feelings toward America, where he achieved popularity and more psychoanalytic followers than in any other country. I attribute Freud's antipathy to a combination of reasons, some conscious and rational, others unconscious and probably inappropriate. Freud's original antipathy can be traced back to his “cocaine episode” from 1884 to 1896. He pursued enthusiastic reports from America about the beneficial therapeutic effects of cocaine for patients and became a leading cocaine authority. When negative reports started to appear on the addictive and toxic effects of cocaine, Freud's medical reputation was almost ruined. He survived this episode but bore America ill feelings for leading him astray. In 1909 he made his only visit to America, was well received, and should have felt that his visit was a big success. Nevertheless, he had a series of minor inconveniences and health problems that left him with negative feelings toward America. From a psychodynamic standpoint, Freud viewed America as his uncivilized, rebellious son, always ready to overthrow him as a father figure and, therefore, dangerous. He resented America's acceptance of his three key dissenters, Adler, Jung, and Rank. He believed that each of these three men achieved more notoriety and popularity in America than he did, which was not true. He disliked being financially dependent on mainly American analysands because World War I had wiped out his savings and inflation was severe in post-war Vienna. He also disliked American psychoanalysts insisting that a medical background be required to become a psychoanalyst. All of these factors and more contributed to Freud's antipathy toward America.