Sigmund Freud and the occult: Parapsychology, and transpersonal psychology
Transpersonal Psychology Review May 31, 2024 Stuart Whomsley
Occult and paranormal ideas from the late 19th and early 20th centuries shaped Freud's theories, and his work later influenced parapsychology and transpersonal psychology. This paper traces those lines of influence, starting with late 19th-century occultism and Freud's ambiguous stance toward it. It examines his essay "The Uncanny," his interest in telepathy, clairvoyance, fortune tellers, dream interpretation, and the magic of words. Freud's impact on Jung and Assagioli is discussed, followed by an assessment of his overall legacy for parapsychology and transpersonal psychology.