Trauma and disavowal: looking at the history of psychoanalysis through the case of Karen Horney.

Abstract

This article examines the history of psychoanalysis through the lens of disavowal, focusing on the case of Karen Horney, a prominent second-generation psychoanalyst whose contributions were largely excluded from the official history. By analyzing Freud's institutional and theoretical dominance, the article explores how dissenting voices like Horney's were marginalized through mechanisms akin to Ferenczi's concept of disavowal. The discussion highlights how the exclusion of Horney and others shaped the development of psychoanalytic theory and practice, particularly regarding gender and authority within the field. The article advocates for recognition of these disavowals, to improve understanding of the internal resistances within psychoanalysis, and their impact on its history and development.