Discussion of Maurice N. Walsh's Article, A Possible Cryptomnesic Influence in the Development of Freud's Psychoanalytic Thought

Although Dr. Walsh mentions in his scholarly paper that the basic superego standards and values of Freud were acquired in childhood, his paper could still be misunderstood as stating that Freud's ethos was mainly Pythagorean in origin.

From the Jones biography it becomes evident that identifications with his father were the essential basis for Freud's superego and that Freud adopted a number of specific Jewish values which became very prominent in his life. These consisted, for example, of the emphasis on learning, especially history and medicine; a strong motivation for achievement; altruism, especially the obligation to give real and permanent help; the belief in the power of the word, and especially the tradition of not believing what the organized majority believes.

On the other hand, Dr. Walsh's thesis that the founding of psychoanalytic societies was influenced by the ideals and the history of the Pythagorean societies seems convincingly demonstrated. The establishment of a moral and intellectual elite is essentially a Pythagorean idea. The public is probably not fully aware of the fact that the selection of candidates for training in psychoanalysis is quite different from the selection for a Ph.D. training program or a medical school. There is no other profession where the trainee is so thoroughly investigated concerning his values, his character, his personality. A man can become an M.D. or a Ph.D. and still be a sociopath or a pervert, an opportunist, a miser or a gambler, a severe neurotic, or a paranoid, an ambulatory schizophrenic or a manic depressive. This is not possible in psychoanalytic training. This is one of the reasons why a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and clinical experience by itself should not be regarded as a license for the practice of psychoanalysis or any kind of psychotherapy.

It is deplorable that some of our candidates invest three or four years in psychoanalytic training and are then advised to resign, but this is necessary in order