The Assault on Truth - Paperback

by Jeffrey Masson (Author)

In 1896, Sigmund Freud introduced his “seduction theory,” connecting accounts of childhood sexual abuse with psychological distress later in life. Within the following decade, he abandoned that position and increasingly interpreted his patients’ reported experiences as fantasies. Why did his thinking change—and what did that reversal mean for generations of patients?

In The Assault on Truth, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson investigates this pivotal controversy in the history of psychoanalysis. Drawing upon letters, archival documents, case histories, and materials that had previously been restricted, Masson examines Freud’s changing theories and challenges the way the psychoanalytic establishment responded to accounts of childhood trauma.

Masson argues that Freud’s retreat from his original position reflected more than a developing clinical theory. According to his interpretation, it also revealed the intellectual and social pressures surrounding the recognition of abuse—and the consequences of refusing to believe those who reported it.

KEY FEATURES

• Historical investigation of Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis

• Examines Freud’s original seduction theory

• Explores his later rejection of patients’ reported memories

• Draws upon archival correspondence and historical documents

• Questions established interpretations of psychoanalytic history

• Discusses trauma, memory, institutional authority, and disbelief

• Written by a former projects director of the Freud Archives

• Paperback edition

TOPICS EXPLORED

• Freud’s seduction theory

• Childhood trauma and sexual abuse

• Memory, fantasy, and psychoanalytic interpretation

• The development of Freudian theory

• Institutional power and professional conformity

• The Freud Archives and historical documents

• Whose testimony receives credibility

• The lasting consequences of disbelief

• Controversy within the psychoanalytic establishment

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson is an author, former professor of Sanskrit, and trained psychoanalyst who served as projects director of the Freud Archives. His public interpretation of documents relating to Freud’s seduction theory brought him into conflict with the psychoanalytic establishment and led him toward an independent writing career.

Masson later became known for exploring animal emotions and human relationships with other species. His books include When Elephants Weep, Dogs Never Lie About Love, The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving, The Face on Your Plate, and Beasts.

PLEASE NOTE

• This book contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse, trauma, incest, mental illness, and institutional disbelief.

• The book presents Jeffrey Masson’s interpretation of Freud’s writings, correspondence, and professional decisions.

• Masson’s conclusions have generated substantial scholarly and professional debate.

• This work examines the history of psychoanalysis and is not a clinical guide or substitute for professional mental-health care.

• Cover artwork and publisher markings may vary by edition.

• Product colors may appear slightly different due to lighting and screen settings.

• Review the available edition and condition information before ordering.

WHY YOU’LL WANT TO READ IT

Provocative, unsettling, and historically significant, The Assault on Truth asks what happens when an influential institution rejects testimony it finds too difficult to accept. It is a challenging examination of Freud’s legacy—and of the power involved in deciding whose memories deserve to be believed.

PRODUCT TYPE

Paperback Psychology and Psychoanalytic History Books