Mesmer believed that illness was caused by an imbalance or blockage of magnetic fluids in the body (Darnton, 1968). He later added support to this argument in 1774, citing a successful treatment for one of his first clients when he produced an “artificial tide” in her body by having her swallow a solution containing iron and then passing strong magnets over areas of so-called “blockages”. Mesmer argued that certain tides in the human body might be accounted for by the movements of the sun and moon (Bloch, 1980). It has been suggested that Mesmer plagiarized his dissertation from a work by Richard Mead (1673–1754), an English physician who was friends with Newton (Pattie, 1994). His doctoral dissertation was entitled, “On the Influence of the Planets on the Human Body”, which relied largely on Newton’s theories of the tides. After studying at the Jesuit universities of Dilligen and Ingolstadt, Mesmer took up the study of medicine at the University of Vienna in 1759. Both of his parents were very strong Catholics and tried to encourage the young Mesmer into the priesthood. It has therefore been said that his parents were able to afford a decent and modest lifestyle for the family. Not much seems to be known about his parents, except that his father was a gamekeeper and forest warden. He was raised in a Swiss-German family in a small town called Iznang, and was the third of a family of nine children. ![]() There will also be some contemplation as to how his work has contributed to psychology.įranz Anton Mesmer was born in May of 1734 or 1735 in Europe, on the German-Swiss border in Lake Constance. This section will outline some of the history of Mesmer and discuss how various personal factors in his life may have contributed to his beliefs and practices. ![]() Psychology was influenced by various theories throughout history that have no scientific foundation, including the beliefs of this Viennese physician of the 18th century. However, at least three things are certain: he delighted, offended, and mesmerized. In reading the history of Franz Anton Mesmer’s life, it is unclear as to whether to conclude that he was truly one of the foreparents of clinical psychology or no more than a quack.
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