The rise of Hitler and National Socialism had led to a revival and the use of psychohistory, in attempting to offer a newly found dimension in explaining the events that had led up to this German political crisis. Psychohistory probes the unconscious psychic influences that control man’s behaviour whilst making him oblivious to these forces of irrationality. Historians who utilise these approaches draw on psychological analysis to clarify human motivations that drove individuals or groups to embrace such actions, beyond the complexity of commonly regarded historical causation. These approaches may be seen to offer a deeper understanding of inner workings of National Socialism, its appeal to the masses and its subterranean roots. Several theoretical
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Inspired by Freudian principles, Erikson seeks to uncover the hidden origins of Nazism by psychoanalysing posthumously Hitler’s troubled adolescence through a revelation of a repressed Childhood, were his mother represented a new beginning, whilst in contrast his father represented the epitome of social decay, thus leading Hitler on a path of rebellious concourse. However, Erikson, points out Hitler childhood dilemmas have a risk of being overemphasised and creating an over aching explanation. This can be seen in Frome psychoanalysis of Hitler’s failure resolution of his Oedipus complex, shifting his incestuous yearnings for his Mother onto the Germany at the same time having an unconscious desire to obliterate his abusive father onto the Jewish populace. This spurs on the theory as to embracement of Nazism as being by product of the authoritarian nature that existed within the German family, as found in the writings of Wilheim Reich in 1933 were he stated that the family was the first cell of Fascism (page 88-97), and thus Hitler had become the lacking father figure. Although this theory is questionable as a result of the number of non-supporters of Nazism arising from similar backgrounds. On the other hand, Waite also using a similar approach to investigate Hitler’s neurotic obsession with Anti-Semitism that are derived from his own failures and lacking. Hence, this form of analysis appear to be a useful approach for historians aiming to uncover the complexity of historical causation especially when dealing with pathological personalities such as the Nazi
Inspired by Freudian principles, Erikson seeks to uncover the hidden origins of Nazism by psychoanalysing posthumously Hitler’s troubled adolescence through a revelation of a repressed Childhood, were his mother represented a new beginning, whilst in contrast his father represented the epitome of social decay, thus leading Hitler on a path of rebellious concourse. However, Erikson, points out Hitler childhood dilemmas have a risk of being overemphasised and creating an over aching explanation. This can be seen in Frome psychoanalysis of Hitler’s failure resolution of his Oedipus complex, shifting his incestuous yearnings for his Mother onto the Germany at the same time having an unconscious desire to obliterate his abusive father onto the Jewish populace. This spurs on the theory as to embracement of Nazism as being by product of the authoritarian nature that existed within the German family, as found in the writings of Wilheim Reich in 1933 were he stated that the family was the first cell of Fascism (page 88-97), and thus Hitler had become the lacking father figure. Although this theory is questionable as a result of the number of non-supporters of Nazism arising from similar backgrounds. On the other hand, Waite also using a similar approach to investigate Hitler’s neurotic obsession with Anti-Semitism that are derived from his own failures and lacking. Hence, this form of analysis appear to be a useful approach for historians aiming to uncover the complexity of historical causation especially when dealing with pathological personalities such as the Nazi