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Dr. Ferenczi Sándor
idegorvos1
Budapest, April 18, 1920
Dear Professor,
Already more than two weeks have again passed since I left Vienna without my having decided to write a letter. To be sure, nothing out of the ordinary
has happened since then. For a few days I was still half-living in the memories of Vienna, but soon everything moved into the far distance; the everyday interests and the local difficulties absorb a great deal of interest. What is left is dedicated to Ψα (as science). The Society is very busy; we are working almost every Sunday. Today we heard an outstanding lecture by a henceforth accepted member by the name of Aurel Kolnai about “Psychoanalysis and Sociology.”2 One would never have ascribed so much ψα understanding to a man who has hitherto been so distant from us. Since I know your current interest in questions of group psychology,3 I am having the paper sent directly to your address. You will certainly find points of contact in his remarks. A little paper by Hermann4 is being sent along with it.
A brief train of thought about “Group Psychology”: Should not ambivalence, the division of antagonistic strivings into two separate psychic acts, be brought into relation with the beginning formation of the ego ideal out of the common ego? The hostile impulse toward the father is an attempt to realize the ideal of becoming a father; the subordinating, [the] impulse to obedience (that of suggestibility in the tendency on which “paternal hypnosis”5 is based), would be the more primitive (group) mode of reaction.
Many members are registering for the Congress; most, however, are counting on support.
Our summer plans are unchanged for the time being (Aussee—The Hague).—
I am very eager to hear how the talk with Varga about the securities went and what else you have decided with Jones and Rank.
Kindest regards from the both of us and thanks to Frau Professor for the hospitality tendered under difficult circumstances.—The hotel director in the Regina also wanted to b