phenomena can be associated with the most sophisticated behaviours imaginable – for example holding a coherent and novel conversation – apparently without the consent (or participation) of the individual’s conscious mind. In his thesis Janet catalogued numerous examples of psychological automatism and attempted to classify them.
Janet’s most important work during his Le Havre years was, however, his exploration of hysteria. He had suggested that hysterical symptoms originated in parts of the mind that had been split off. These symptoms were, therefore, examples of psychological automatism. They were generated by parts of the mind that had become ‘detached’ and contained subconscious thoughts and memories. Janet believed that this ‘splitting’ was caused by the experience of trauma.
Janet did not include any of his experiments on telepathy in his thesis. A further notable omission was any reference to the possible therapeutic implications of his work. Janet was not, at that time, medically qualified, and he did not want to offend the sensitivities of the medical establishment. He was examined on 21 June 1889 at the Sorbonne. He passed without difficulty and was warmly congratulated for his achievement.
By 1889 Janet had completed the first major phase of his life’s work. That August, he attended the International Congress for Experimental and Therapeutic Hypnotism in Paris. He was a committee member and well respected by his peers. Over 300 delegates attended. Many were distinguished. They included Frederick Myers, Cesare Lombroso (one of the first criminologists), and William James (the psychologist and brother of Henry). One member was yet to make his mark on the world. In fact, it would be another four years before he published his first important paper on the psychological treatment of mental illness. He was a young neurologist from Vienna called Sigmund Freud. The man history would canonise as the father of psychotherapy.
Janet began his medical studies in November 1889; however, his time was still not fully his own. He was still pledged to undertake teaching duties and for a year occupied a post at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand before moving to the Collège Rollin. Fortunately, he was regarded as a special case and he was able to spend a considerable amount of time on Charcot’s wards at the Salpêtrière from 1890 onwards.
The Salpêtrière was, of course, a hospital. But to call it a hospital would fail to give a proper impression of its dimensions, for the Salpêtrière was not so much a large building designated for the care of the sick, as a city. Indeed, it was often described as a city within a city. The Salpêtrière housed thousands of patients (mostly women) in over forty buildings and covered over 125 acres of land.
Janet arrived at the Salpêtrière when Charcot’s career was at its zenith. If the Salpêtrière was a kingdom in miniature, then there was no doubting the identity of the demiurge who presided over its shadowy and labyrinthine corridors. Charcot was known as ‘The Napoleon of the neuroses’, and his colleagues and acquaintances were called – by envious rivals –
la charcoterie’.
Janet had already been noticed and praised by Charcot, so when he arrived at the Salpêtrière his place among
la charcoterie
was virtually guaranteed. As soon as Janet commenced his medical studies he resumed his psychological investigations. At the Salpêtrière, he was allowed to assess and treat hysterical patients. Indeed, Charcot often referred his own patients. It is very likely that Charcot recognised that Janet was not really a student; at least, not in the conventional sense. He had gained a considerable amount of clinical experience while ‘experimenting’ at Le Havre and was, in his own way, an expert.
In his writings, Janet began to refine his treatment methods. He believed that treatment depended on a thorough understanding of psychological problems. Symptoms should be carefully
Janet’s most important work during his Le Havre years was, however, his exploration of hysteria. He had suggested that hysterical symptoms originated in parts of the mind that had been split off. These symptoms were, therefore, examples of psychological automatism. They were generated by parts of the mind that had become ‘detached’ and contained subconscious thoughts and memories. Janet believed that this ‘splitting’ was caused by the experience of trauma.
Janet did not include any of his experiments on telepathy in his thesis. A further notable omission was any reference to the possible therapeutic implications of his work. Janet was not, at that time, medically qualified, and he did not want to offend the sensitivities of the medical establishment. He was examined on 21 June 1889 at the Sorbonne. He passed without difficulty and was warmly congratulated for his achievement.
By 1889 Janet had completed the first major phase of his life’s work. That August, he attended the International Congress for Experimental and Therapeutic Hypnotism in Paris. He was a committee member and well respected by his peers. Over 300 delegates attended. Many were distinguished. They included Frederick Myers, Cesare Lombroso (one of the first criminologists), and William James (the psychologist and brother of Henry). One member was yet to make his mark on the world. In fact, it would be another four years before he published his first important paper on the psychological treatment of mental illness. He was a young neurologist from Vienna called Sigmund Freud. The man history would canonise as the father of psychotherapy.
Janet began his medical studies in November 1889; however, his time was still not fully his own. He was still pledged to undertake teaching duties and for a year occupied a post at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand before moving to the Collège Rollin. Fortunately, he was regarded as a special case and he was able to spend a considerable amount of time on Charcot’s wards at the Salpêtrière from 1890 onwards.
The Salpêtrière was, of course, a hospital. But to call it a hospital would fail to give a proper impression of its dimensions, for the Salpêtrière was not so much a large building designated for the care of the sick, as a city. Indeed, it was often described as a city within a city. The Salpêtrière housed thousands of patients (mostly women) in over forty buildings and covered over 125 acres of land.
Janet arrived at the Salpêtrière when Charcot’s career was at its zenith. If the Salpêtrière was a kingdom in miniature, then there was no doubting the identity of the demiurge who presided over its shadowy and labyrinthine corridors. Charcot was known as ‘The Napoleon of the neuroses’, and his colleagues and acquaintances were called – by envious rivals –
la charcoterie’.
Janet had already been noticed and praised by Charcot, so when he arrived at the Salpêtrière his place among
la charcoterie
was virtually guaranteed. As soon as Janet commenced his medical studies he resumed his psychological investigations. At the Salpêtrière, he was allowed to assess and treat hysterical patients. Indeed, Charcot often referred his own patients. It is very likely that Charcot recognised that Janet was not really a student; at least, not in the conventional sense. He had gained a considerable amount of clinical experience while ‘experimenting’ at Le Havre and was, in his own way, an expert.
In his writings, Janet began to refine his treatment methods. He believed that treatment depended on a thorough understanding of psychological problems. Symptoms should be carefully
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