Ernst Jentsch

Ernst Jentsch

Name	Ernst Jentsch
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Birth date	1867
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Death date	1919
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Alma mater
Occupation	Psychiatrist, Author
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Ernst Jentsch (1867–1919) was a German psychiatrist and author, best known for his work on the concept of the "uncanny". His ideas have significantly influenced the fields of psychology, psychoanalysis, and literature.

Biography

Ernst Jentsch was born in 1867 in Germany. He pursued a career in medicine, specializing in psychiatry. Jentsch's work was primarily focused on the psychological aspects of human experience, and he was particularly interested in the phenomena that evoke feelings of unease or discomfort.

The Concept of the Uncanny

Jentsch is most renowned for his 1906 essay "On the Psychology of the Uncanny" ("Zur Psychologie des Unheimlichen"), where he explored the psychological experience of the uncanny. In this essay, Jentsch described the uncanny as a feeling of unease or eeriness that arises when something is both familiar and foreign at the same time, leading to a sense of cognitive dissonance.

Jentsch argued that the uncanny is often triggered by uncertainty or ambiguity, particularly in relation to human-like figures, such as dolls, automata, or wax figures. He suggested that when an object closely resembles a human being but is not quite lifelike, it can evoke a sense of unease because it challenges our perceptions of reality.

Influence and Legacy

Jentsch's ideas on the uncanny were later expanded upon by Sigmund Freud in his 1919 essay "The Uncanny" ("Das Unheimliche"), where Freud delved deeper into the psychoanalytic aspects of the phenomenon. Freud's work brought further attention to Jentsch's original ideas, cementing the concept of the uncanny as a significant topic in both psychology and cultural studies.

Jentsch's exploration of the uncanny has also influenced various fields beyond psychology, including literature, film, and art. The uncanny is a recurring theme in Gothic literature, horror films, and surrealist art, where creators often seek to evoke feelings of discomfort and unease in their audiences.

Also see

• Sigmund Freud
• The Uncanny
• Psychoanalysis
• Gothic literature
• Surrealism

References

• Jentsch, E. (1906). "Zur Psychologie des Unheimlichen". Psychiatrisch-Neurologische Wochenschrift.
• Freud, S. (1919). "Das Unheimliche". Imago.