> [!NOTE] : Freud’s Suppression of the Seduction Theory `Author:` Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson `Availability:` Yes ## Summary _The Assault on Truth_ (1984) by **Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson** examines Sigmund Freud’s early theories about the causes of neurosis, focusing on his short-lived **“seduction theory.”** In the mid-1890s, Freud proposed that adult neuroses often stemmed from **sexual experiences in early childhood**, which he initially believed were **real events** reported by his patients. Around 1897, Freud **abandoned** this view and reinterpreted these accounts as **[[Unconscious]] fantasies** rather than factual memories. This marked a decisive turn from a [[Trauma]]-based model of mental illness to one centred on **inner psychic conflict**, **[[repression]]**, and **infantile sexuality**, forming the theoretical basis of psychoanalysis. Masson reconstructs this shift using Freud’s early case notes, correspondence, and published works. He examines Freud’s reasoning — that the seduction theory lacked sufficient evidence and that apparent memories of abuse reflected internal desires or symbolic constructions. The book explores how this theoretical change influenced the **development of psychoanalytic thought** and subsequent attitudes toward trauma, sexuality, and memory. Modern trauma research, while not confirming Masson’s historical claims about Freud, has **reaffirmed the psychological impact of real traumatic experiences**, including childhood abuse. Contemporary figures such as **Judith Herman** and **Bessel van der Kolk** have shown that **actual trauma can profoundly affect memory, emotion, and behaviour**, bringing scientific attention back to themes that Freud first raised and later abandoned. --- ## **Key Points** - Freud’s _seduction theory_ linked neuroses to actual early sexual experiences. - He later replaced this with a theory based on fantasy and repression. - Masson analyses the evidence and implications of this theoretical change. - Modern trauma research supports the importance of real trauma but does not confirm Masson’s interpretation of Freud’s motives. --- ## Key Takeaways ## Quotes - ## Notes > [!info] > ![[Freud’s Suppression of the Seduction Theory._UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg]] `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`