A BIT MORE LIGHT ON FERENCZI AND FREUD

In a recent article on Freud's motivation for rethinking his seduction theory, I (Tabin, 1993) briefly referred to Ferenczi. Aron and Franke l (1994), however, being particularly interested in Ferenczi, expanded on what I said from a different point of view. They stressed three is sues that involve Ferenczi in this part of psychoanalytic history. I a gree that it is worthwhile to explore these issues further. In doing s o, I have been stimulated to bring together information that I believe has not been described previously in one account. I present material from the literature that (a) confirms Freud's priority in citing the r elationship between splitting of the ego and childhood sexual trauma; (b) describes signs of considerable emotional difficulty on the part o f Ferenczi during the last period of his life; and (c) shows that Freu d's referring to Ferenczi as paranoid was a reaction to Ferenczi's hos tility to him, significantly predating their public theoretical differ ences. An important aspect of the last matter is Ferenczi's explanatio n of his hostility: Freud never helped him with the negative transfere nce that underlay his idealization of Freud. Freud defended himself by saying that negative transference was not understood when he treated Ferenczi. Nonetheless, the truth of this must have affected Freud beca use without mentioning names, he (1937) included a recognizable (and d efensive) account of it years later in ''Analysis Terminable and Inter minable.'' The fundamental bond between the two men remained strong. A ron and Frankel correctly stated that we agree it is a mistake to view Freud and Ferenczi as opponents.