The background of dynamic psychiatry can be traced to two centuries back. The 1800’s was a time that is difficult for us to imagine. People were much tougher, since they had no access to the luxuries and comforts of today. Sedatives and narcotics were almost unheard of and public hygiene was at a primitive stage. Even the wealthy lived in a way that few people would consider comfortable today.
In 1771, a French navigator traveled around the world, and published stories of his exciting adventures. He described the natural happiness and complete sexual freedom that he encountered in the natives of Tahiti. Diderot commented on this work, and said, that civilized man is the “prey of internal strife” between the “natural man” and the “moral and artificial man.” No matter who prevails in this conflict, civilized man remains forever an unhappy creature – an idea that would be adopted by Nietzsche and Freud.
There were three classes that existed during this time period. In France, where Mesmer became popular, the aristocracy owned mansions in the country side and in the city, and they were close to the court. They spent money freely on gambling and entertainment and saw this as a virtue, but the nobility also experienced a crisis, they saw no satisfactory outlet for their ambitions and need for activity.
They were despised by the Bourgeoise who saw thrift and hard work as the primary virtues. The proletariat had their own subculture and their own medical and literary knowledge, but their lot was a hard one, especially considering that life was difficult for all.
The nobility’s reaction to dissidents was either to cling desperately to their privileges and try to enforce them, or to turn to philanthropic work. Others found new outlets such as colonial enterprises or scientific research, but these endeavours would be considered amateurish today.
The bourgeoise, part of the commoners, were on the rise and became numerous and powerful.
Mesmer’s (hypnotizer) victory of Gassner (exorcist) during this time period represented the victory of the Enlightenment over the Baroque, science over technology, and the aristocracy over the clergy. Mesmer made his money by charging noblemen very high fees.
The Economic Background: The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution took place in England between 1760 and 1830. New machines increased productivity without the need for more manpower. Traditional crafts slowly disappeared, and new economic life arose, built around profit.
The world was transformed into a large market. New factories were created, that drove the peasants to the countryside, leading to social problems and the rise of socialism. At the same time, a rapid increase in Europe’s population was followed by mass emigration to North America and other countries. All over the world, the “frontier” was open to the white man, who came as a settler, or as a colonist or trader, exploiting countries and their people.