Freud's discovery of the aetiological significance of childhood sexual trauma

What is it about?

Reconstructing Freud's treatment of Emma Eckstein (1894-1895), with her account of childhood sexual abuse, suggests how Freud came to believe his patients' psycho-neuroses were caused by childhood sexual traumas. Although originally called the theory of "the pre-sexual sexual trauma" historians now routinely refer to it as Freud's seduction theory which was the pejorative term Freud subsequently used to gloss what he soon came to consider as his "mistake".

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Why is it important?

This article challenges assumptions that Freud's writings have no place in the current discourse on child sexual abuse. A re-evaluation of Freud's early work suggests how his texts might also be read for their biographical material on late 19th century Viennese victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse.