The Dora case, an emblem in psychoanalysis

The Dora case is one of the most famous and interesting in psychoanalysis.. It can be stated that it is one of the founding processes of this discipline. He was attended by Sigmund Freud in person and confirmed some approaches for the conceptualization of hysteria, one of the psychic structures contemplated by Freudian analysis.

From the Dora case, Freud was reaffirmed in one of its basic premises. This is: the symptoms of hysteria are the result of repressed sexual fantasies. Entering into the analysis of the case, first of all let us point out that “Dora” is a fictitious name. It corresponds to Ida Bauer, who was in psychoanalysis for three months with Freud and interrupted the process of her own free will.

The Dora case has gone down in history as one of the most emblematic of psychoanalysis. The data of this clinical case were published in 1905, with the title Fragmentary analysis of a case of hysteria . Dora Case. Let’s delve into its development.

The hysterical symptoms in the Dora case

Dora, or Ida Bauer, arrived at Sigmund Freud’s office led by her father, a former patient of the Viennese psychoanalyst. The first time she comes, talks about physical symptoms that tormented her. In particular, she suffered from attacks very annoying cough. She was 16 at the time and shortly after that first consultation, the cough disappeared. So she didn’t return to her sessions.

According to Freud’s account of the Dora case, The patient had different symptoms since childhood. At 8 years old she had suffered from dyspnea. At the age of 12 he developed chronic headaches and had his first bouts of coughing.

The coughing attacks returned and she sought out Freud again for psychoanalysis. She was 18 years old then. This time, In addition, today it is thought that he was a victim of depression and his emotional instability was pronounced. She avoided social interaction, stating that it fatigued her.. She was in conflict with her mother and estranged from her father. Her parents found a letter announcing suicide. She also suffered fainting spells for no apparent reason.

Dora’s world

Dora’s family history was complicated. Her father was the lover of a woman she identified as “Mrs. K.” This information was initially hidden from Freud. Dora’s mother was an almost invisible presence, whose role was basically that of housewife. Dora knew of her father’s infidelity and showed Freud her indignation at the fact.

Once Freud knows this fact, he focuses his hypotheses on it. Freud interprets that The real object of Dora’s attention is “Mrs. K.” At the same time, she also interprets that the patient is “in love” with “Mr. K.” In Dora’s story with Mr. K we find two crucial episodes for Freud.

Dora tells Freud that when she was 14, on one occasion when the two of them were alone, Mr. K. hugged her and kissed her on the mouth. Dora describes that she felt disgust and her reaction was disgust. Thus, Freud concludes that Dora was already a hysteric at the age of fourteen because… “In the face of any person who, on an occasion favorable to sexual excitement, develops predominantly or exclusively sensations of repugnance, I will not hesitate for a moment to diagnose hysteria, whether symptoms exist or not.” somatics.”

For Dora’s father, a second episode occurred at Mr. and Mrs. K’s summer residence that would have triggered depression. On a walk near the lake, Mr. K would have made a love proposal to Dora. The episode is told to her by her mother, while she asks her father to break off the relationship with the Ks.

What Freud discovers is that the hysteric unconsciously identifies with man. She ignores what it means to “be a woman.”. Another woman, the one who is the object of her father’s desire, and who in this case is not her mother, represents the possibility of answering the central question of hysteria: “What is it to be a woman?”

Freud suspects that the hysteric does not understand what is the factor that defines her as a woman.. Look for an answer to this through another woman. That’s why she is always involved in love triangles. Obviously all this takes place in the unconscious.

The meanders of hysteria

The Dora case would open several debates in psychoanalysis regarding hysteria. The main vehicle that Freud used to elucidate the unconscious drama that his patient was experiencing were dreams.. These would have revealed that behind Dora’s symptoms there was a psychosexual conflict.

As already noted, behind the hysterical symptoms there would be a repressed sexual desire. In fact, It is indicated that all these diseases or somatic symptoms are a sexual practice of hysterics.. Likewise, Freud confirmed that as the symptoms were understood, they disappeared. Something that, in turn, would constitute for Freud one of the bases of psychoanalysis and proof of the correctness of his method.

The Dora case was a “failure” for Freud, because she did not finish her psychoanalysis. This, at the same time, contributed to better understanding the phenomenon of “transfer” in its negative aspect. The patient deposits a series of feelings and expectations in his analyst. When these are positive, psychoanalysis is successful and otherwise the process will be contaminated.

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