Freud and the American Ethos
Notes based on Demos, John (1997). Oedipus and America: Historical perspectives on the reception of psychoanalysis in the United States (1978, reprint) and History and the psychosocial: Reflections on "Oedipus and America." In, Pfister, J. and N. Schnog, editors, (pp. 63-83), Inventing the psychological: Toward a cultural history of emotional life in America.
Historical perspectives on 19th century family life
During the colonial period, home and community were complementary. Home life prepared people well for community life, for political and social roles in the community. Hence, John Demos titled his book on colonial America A Little Commonwealth. In the colonial period, women and men shared jobs, there was overlap in roles, different ages mingled together in the same household, workplace and home were synonymous.
In contrast, by 1850 or earlier, a new American view of the family was emerging. The family had become a separate sphere. The home was seen to be a different realm than the world, community and workplace. The world, community was seen as chaotic, dangerous, dis-orderly. The family was seen to be a retreat from the world.
The idea of "home" was sentimentalized and associated with love, goodness, kindness, peace, harmony, and so on. Homelife also came to be associated with the formation of character. Gender roles became more differentiated: men were to represent the family in a dangerous world; women were to maintain the sanctity of the home.
The 19th century saw increasing generational differentiation. Childhood was invented and children were seen to have their own patterns of work and play.
Why did these changes occur? Demos suggests they resulted from the growth of urban, industrial, mass society. Through the 19th century, the birth rate dropped; there were attempts at birth control. Families of 10 became families averaging 4; ages were distinct; a generation gap emerged.
Changes in childrearing practices
Given these changes, knowledge of parenting and human development could not be taken for granted any longer. The experiences of older people were no longer credible and could not serve as a guide. Parenting seemed complex and risky. There was a heightened consciousness about it.
So – experts on child rearing began to appear (Protestant clergy, scribbling ladies of the early 1820’s-1830’s were forerunners).
From all we know, Demos says, children in the 19th century were raised in new settings, by different rules, guided by different goals.
1) There was new pressure on mothers to get it right. The early years were seen to be important. Pregnant mothers were told to gaze at beautiful things to improve their baby’s sensibilities. (Frank Lloyd Wright’s mother is an example.] Special emphasis was placed on raising male children properly.
2) Childrearing goals were in conflict. Children were to be raised to be "go getters," independent, resourceful [expressive qualities].
3) They were also supposed to have inner discipline, self control, a solid moral compass [control related qualities].
4) A guilt orientation emerged. There was a shift from public shame to private shame as an instrument of parental and societal control. Child’s inner feelings became the vehicle for punishment.
5) There is also a massive intensification of the child-parent bond. Children have the power to ruin the happiness of their parents – even lead them to an early demise!
The emergence of the "Hot house (Oedipal) family"
People in the 19th century bought into the Victorian notion that women were sexless and lacking in any "drives" related to reproduction. Husbands appear to have believed this and went off to work in the city. Under such circumstances, might mothers not have formed a more relationship with their sons?
Dads were also losing power and influence in the family. They were gone a lot; no longer patriarchs. Families become more mobile. Immigrant families grow in number.
Competition of sons with fathers becomes a new American phenomenon. Sons were now expected to surpass their fathers’ accomplishments, and fathers were no longer helpful guides with respect to fostering skills needed for success in urban society. Self made men owe their fathers nothing.
So – Why did Freud become so popular in America?
Demos argues: There are fewer characters in the family; and a new "triangle" emerges in the 19th century. Everyone is feeling intense anxiety lest errors be made, but there are no guides or trustworthy role models for parenting anymore.
Intensity of emotional bonds increases. Sons derive nurturance and character from their mothers.
The father/son relationship is characterized by growing distance, competition and rivalry.
Everyone is expected to acquire and show self-discipline, self-governance. (Urbanization, mobility have eroded the community context in which moral behavior was once monitored and managed. People need to be made to feel guilty about misconduct!)
People responded to Freud’s theory as though a new discovery had been made. Freud once said "America is a mistake: a gigantic mistake…" Demos concludes, the mistake was that Freud was not an American.
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Modified 9/04/01 jka.