Polgar as Freud's Hypnotist? Contrary Evidence

Abstract

In his autobiography (1951) Franz Polgar, a stage entertainer, reported that he had served as Sigmund Freud's hypnosis assistant in late 1924. He stated that he had observed Freud engaging in hypnotherapy during that time. This report was significant because Freud had retreated from the clinical use of hypnosis in 1896. This present paper examines Polgar's claims by reference to both direct and circumstantial evidence from historical sources. On the basis of these records, it was concluded that Polgar's story is not valid. Although Freud maintained a well-documented and well-reported interest in hypnosis throughout his professional life, there is no evidence that he either had a hypnosis assistant or that he employed hypnosis as a therapeutic technique after his announced abandonment of it.

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