Sigmund Freud and the occult: Parapsychology, and transpersonal psychology

Abstract

The late nineteenth and early twentieth century saw a resurgence of interest in the occult and the paranormal. Ideas from the occult, the paranormal and the study of altered states of consciousness influenced Freud’s theories. In turn, the work of Freud has influenced parapsychology and transpersonal psychology. This paper explores these lines of influence from occultism, through Freudianism, into parapsychology and transpersonal psychology. It begins by examining late 19th-century occultism and Freud’s ambiguous position on it. It then considers his work The Uncanny (1919/1955), before looking at his interest in telepathy, clairvoyance, fortune tellers, dream interpretation and the magic of words. Freud’s influence on Jung and Assagioli will be discussed before considering of his overall legacy for parapsychology and transpersonal psychology.