Martin Luther & Psychoanalysis

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at Martin Luther and psychoanalysis. The paper does so by reviewing Erik H. Erickson's book, 'Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History'. According to the paper, this book has two very powerful themes presented. The first is on the very famous historical figure and religious reformer, Martin Luther, whose name will be a big part of the history of the civilized world for centuries to come. And the other major theme in this book is psychoanalysis, for which the late Eric Erickson was a well-known practitioner and innovator.

Outline:
Introduction to Erik Erikson
'Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History'
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"At this point in the book, Erikson digs up research on Luther's "fit" in the choir, offering various views from others' writings - those "experts" who later speculated about it - including Otto Scheel, a German professor of theology, who "flatly disavows" the story but in the process of denial equates Luther's possible "fit" with Paul's "miraculous [and yet pathological] conversion." A Dominican named Heinrich Denifle, another historian / archivist quoted by Erikson, suggests that Luther's "fit" was the result of "an abysmal depravity of character"; after all, Denifle believed Luther to be "too much of a psychopath to be credited with honest mental or spiritual suffering" (p. 26). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Erikson, Erik H. Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History. New York: W. W. Norton & Company Inc.
• Sharkey, Wendy. "Erik Erikson: 1902-1994." Psychology History / Muskingum College. Retrieved 25 Oct. 2006 from http://muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/erikson.htm.
• Wikipedia. "Erik Erikson." Retrieved 26 Oct. 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Erikson.
• Yahoo Education. "Encyclopedia: Erikson, Erik." Retrieved 26 Oct. 2006 from http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Erikson.

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