Karl Abraham

Freud and other psychoanalysts 1922

Karl Abraham (3 May 1877 – 25 December 1925) was an influential German psychoanalyst and a close collaborator of Sigmund Freud. His work contributed significantly to the development of psychoanalysis, especially in the areas of personality theory and the understanding of mental disorders.

Early Life and Education

Karl Abraham was born in Bremen, Germany. He studied medicine at several universities, including Würzburg, Berlin, and Freiburg. After completing his medical degree, Abraham focused his interests on psychiatry, a field that was still in its infancy at the time.

Career

Abraham's career in psychoanalysis began after he met Sigmund Freud in 1907. Impressed by Freud's theories, Abraham underwent analysis with Freud and soon became a key member of the psychoanalytic community. He was instrumental in establishing the Berlin Psychoanalytic Society and served as its president for many years.

Abraham made several important contributions to psychoanalytic theory. He is known for his work on the development of the libido and introduced the concept of the oral character. His studies on the stages of sexual development and their implications for neurosis and psychosis have been influential. Abraham also explored the relationship between bipolar disorder (which he referred to as manic-depressive psychosis) and the developmental stages of the libido.

Influence and Legacy

Karl Abraham's theories on personality development and psychopathology were groundbreaking at the time and have influenced subsequent generations of psychoanalysts. His work on the oral phase of sexual development expanded Freud's theories and contributed to the understanding of human psychology.

Despite his early death at the age of 48, Abraham's contributions to psychoanalysis were significant. He was a mentor to several prominent psychoanalysts, including Melanie Klein, who further developed his ideas and became a leading figure in the field of child psychoanalysis.

Selected Works

Abraham published extensively on psychoanalytic theory and practice. Some of his notable works include:

• Dreams and Myths (1913)
• A Short Study of the Development of the Libido, Viewed in the Light of Mental Disorders (1924)
• Clinical Papers and Essays on Psychoanalysis (1927, posthumously)

Death

Karl Abraham died on 25 December 1925 in Berlin, after suffering from a prolonged illness. His death was a significant loss to the psychoanalytic community, but his legacy continues through his writings and the work of his students.

See Also

• Sigmund Freud
• Melanie Klein
• Psychosexual development
• History of psychoanalysis