Bidspirit auction | FREUD SIGMUND: (1856-1939) Freud on

FREUD SIGMUND: (1856-1939) Freud on homosexuality - FREUD SIGMUND: (1856-1939) Austrian neurologist, the founder of psychoanalysis. An exceptional A.L.S., Freud , two pages, large 4to, Vienna, 22nd January 1937, to Doctor Benjamin Mendelsohn, in German. Freud writes in response to an enquiry from Mendelsohn in which he had sought Freud´s advice regarding the case of a hunchbacked teacher accused of homosexual acts against two of his pupils, Freud explaining that he will answer ´as well as this is possible from a distance´ and continuing to offer his thoughts in five numbered paragraphs (translated) ´I) Curvature of the spine: a) significant for sexual abstinence in so far as the deformity will deter his courage to woo and will minimise his chances with women. b) As for homosexuality: no direct effect except, possibly, where a disposition to disease is present. II) Even though it is obvious that the psychological disorder is a direct result of a neglected structural defect of a person, it is questionable how much suffering could have been prevented by an early treatment. III) Ascending alcoholism - no proven effect as far as homosexuality is concerned. IV) The tender bonding between mother and child is a regularly-found and characteristic trait in the most common types of homosexuality. V) It is entirely possible that young people with sufficient talent and strong character development can achieve normal social behaviour and adequate accomplishments despite adverse conditions and functional defects, as manifested in this case. A well-known example is the philosopher of the 18th century, Moses Mendelsohn (sic) whose name is also yours´ . Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Freud. Together with a T.L.S., Prof L Lattes , by the Italian scientist Leon Lattes, one page, large 4to, Pavia, 25th January 1937, also to Benjamin Mendelsohn, on the printed stationery of the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Pavia, in French. Latte responds to the same questions Mendelsohn had posed to Freud, also answering in five numbered paragraphs, in part, (translated) ´I. It is evident that a serious deformity of the spinal column may, in the case of individuals of timid temperament, cause a condition of apprehensive fear with regard to sexual relations, consequently inhibiting all attempts at amorous advances, even toward a prostitute. II. The sexual life having been thus warped at the time of puberty, there may result a psycho-sexual deviation toward platonic homosexuality. But I could not, from the strictly medical-legal point of view, attribute this as being caused by the spinal deformity; since the constitutional predisposition and the psychogenic development influenced by stimulations of the environment predominate in such a rigid manner, it is not legally justifiable to consider the deformity as other than an occasional condition that may be favourable to, but not causative of the psychopathic deviation......III. The question of the influence of a background of alcoholism is one that is very much discussed from the scientific point of view. It is generally admitted that it may figure among the causes of psycho-pathological predispositions, when considered in general, but certainly not in any specific manner a cause of sexual inversion. IV. I do not have a thorough grounding in psycho-analysis; it seems to me however, that the well known Oedipus complex of Freud, which forms a part of the normal hetrosexual psychology, is in perfect conformity with a pronounced attachment to the mother; in other words, I do not see here any indication of homosexual tendencies. V. As for your last request, I find it quite vague. Everyone has known individuals who have succeeded, under difficult circumstances, in repressing their bad tendencies, especially if they have found support and effective assistance; others, on the contrary, with a naturally weak will, who have not had the corrective influence of a good and steadying education, become the victims of their passions, even if they are highly abnormal. But alas! Many men have been able to resist their temptations, yet on a given occasion, as a result of momentary weakness or an unusual convergence of circumstances, they have yielded, in contradiction to their past behaviours of honour and rectitude. It must be said, as did Jesus : Let him who is without sin cast the first stone´ . A remarkable pair of letters for their discussion of homosexuality in relation to human deformity, Freud´s letter particularly desirable and not least for his reference to his classical psychoanalytic theory, the Oedipus complex, first introduced in 1910. Each of the letters with two file holes to the left edges and some light age wear, minor creasing and a few small tears to the edges, the latter more noticeable in the letter of Lattes. Both letters, and Freud´s envelope,