A thesis on the affects in schizophrenia patients marked the entry of René Laforgue into the professional field of psychiatry in 1919. A pivotal figure in the development of French psychoanalytic institutions, he navigated complex intellectual shifts and political controversies throughout a career that spanned from the early twentieth century until his death in 1962.
Early Career and Institutional Foundations
Born in 1894 in Thann, then part of the German Empire, Laforgue pursued medical studies in Berlin. Following his 1919 thesis, he engaged in training analysis and initiated a correspondence with Sigmund Freud. His organizational work culminated in 1926 when he co-founded the Paris Psychoanalytic Society alongside Marie Bonaparte and eight other practitioners. He later visited Freud in Carlsbad, Czechoslovakia, accompanied by his student Georges Mauco, and maintained professional ties with the Freuds throughout the 1920s.
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Laforgue authored several books, including Clinical Aspects of Psycho-Analysis in 1938 and a 1931 study on Charles Baudelaire. His articles covered diverse topics such as the eroticization of fear in gambling and the mechanics of psychological repression. Intellectual tension defined his relationship with Freud, particularly regarding the term scotomization. While initially accepted as a descriptor for blocking unpleasant perceptions in hysteria, Freud later rejected the term, noting it originated in descriptions of dementia praecox.
Wartime Collaboration and Exile
During the German occupation of France in World War Two, Laforgue collaborated with Matthias Göring, a propagator of Nazi-oriented psychoanalysis. This association with the cousin of Hermann Göring regarding the aryanisation of society impacted his professional standing. Following the war, he faced a purge trial and subsequent conviction. He eventually relocated to Casablanca, Morocco, where his later writings reflected shifts toward mysticism and racial themes.
Later Recognition and Removal
Despite earlier institutional roles, his career concluded under scrutiny. In 1953, he was named a Knight of the Legion of Honour. However, the International Psychoanalytical Association removed him from its roster of training analysts in 1962, the same year he died in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.
Fast facts
- Born: 1894, Thann
- Died: 1962, 16th arrondissement of Paris
- Citizenship: France
- Primary Fields: Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis
- Key Institution: Paris Psychoanalytic Society
- Award: Knight of the Legion of Honour (1953)
Questions readers ask
What role did René Laforgue play in the Paris Psychoanalytic Society?
He was a co-founder of the society in 1926, working alongside Marie Bonaparte and eight other individuals.
Why was his post-war career considered controversial?
He was involved in a purge trial following World War Two due to his collaboration with Nazi-associated groups during the occupation of Paris.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1953
