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There were [[three ]] major sources of influence on the [[psychoanalytic ]] movement: previous assumptions [[about ]] the [[unconscious]], early notions about [[psychopathology]], and evolutionary [[theory]].

As early as the eighteenth century, [[German ]] [[philosopher ]] and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz developed the [[notion ]] that there were degrees of [[consciousness ]] ranging from completely unconscious to fully [[conscious]]. A century later, German philosopher Johann Friedrich Herbart refined Leibnitz's [[concept ]] of the unconscious by [[stating ]] that only conscious [[ideas ]] are perceived in [[awareness]]. Gustav Theodore Fechner, who preceded [[Freud ]] but had contact with him in the later part of the nineteenth century, also speculated about the unconscious. Fechner conceived the classic illustration of an iceberg to visualize the contrast between the conscious and unconscious [[mind]].

[[Discussion ]] of the unconscious was very much a part of the European [[intellectual ]] [[community ]] during the 1880s when Freud was beginning his [[clinical ]] [[practice]]. But the unconscious was not only of interest to professionals. It had become a fashionable topic of conversation among the educated [[public]]. A book entitled [[Philosophy ]] of the Unconscious became so popular that it appeared in nine editions. In the 1870s, at least a half dozen [[other ]] books published in [[Germany ]] included the [[word ]] "unconscious" in their titles.

So, although Freud is often credited with "discovering" the unconscious, his [[genius ]] was more accurately stated as having taken the preexisting notions of the unconscious that were popular in his day and fashioning [[them ]] into a coherent and tangible [[system]].

[[History ]] is replete with examples of misconceptions about [[mental ]] [[illness]]. In the Middle Ages [[people ]] who were mentally ill were perceived as [[being ]] possessed by the devil. It was believed that only severe [[punishment ]] of these individuals could yield a [[cure]]. Those who would not publicly repent of their "sins" were often executed. Over [[time ]] this view softened. By the eighteenth century, mental illness came to be viewed more as [[irrational ]] [[behavior]]. Mentally ill persons were confined in institutions similar to jails. Although they were no longer put to [[death]], they were offered no [[treatment]].

In the early 1880s, a [[French ]] physician by the [[name ]] of Philippe Pinel recognized the [[need ]] for treating those [[suffering ]] from mental illness and began attempting to make [[sense ]] of a [[patient]]'s problems by [[listening ]] to them. Under Pinel's direction, a [[number ]] of [[patients ]] previously [[thought ]] to be hopelessly disturbed began to be cured. This concept of a "[[talking cure]]" began to spread rapidly throughout [[Europe ]] and then to the [[United States]].

During the nineteenth century, psychiatrists were [[divided ]] into two camps, the somatic and the [[psychic]]. The somatic approach held that abnormal behavior had [[physical ]] causes such as brain lesions, or understimulated or overly tight nerves. The psychic [[school ]] subscribed to emotional or [[psychological ]] explanations for abnormal behavior. In general, the somatic viewpoint dominated, supported by the ideas of the German philosopher Immanuel [[Kant]], who ridiculed the view that emotional problems somehow led to mental illness.

The [[discipline ]] of [[psychoanalysis ]] developed as a [[revolt ]] against the somatic orientation. It was against this backdrop that Freud later adopted his "talking [[therapy]]" techniques, which he used extensively with his [[neurotic ]] patients.

Freud's [[thinking ]] was greatly influenced by the writings of Charles [[Darwin]]. Freud read all of Darwin's works and made notations in the margins of each book. He regularly praised the works to colleagues and in his own publications. Some have claimed that Darwin's writings exerted more influence on Freud's thinking, and therefore on the [[development ]] of [[psychoanalytic theory]], than any other single source. As almost a confirmation of this, Freud insisted later in [[life ]] that the study of Darwin's [[theory of evolution ]] should be an essential part of the [[training ]] program for [[psychoanalysts]].

Darwin discussed several ideas that Freud later emphasized in psychoanalysis, including unconscious mental [[processes ]] and conflicts, [[significance ]] of [[dreams]], hidden [[symbolism ]] of certain behaviors, and importance of [[sexual ]] arousal. On the [[whole]], Darwin focused, as Freud did later, on the nonrational aspects of thought and behavior. Darwin's theories also affected Freud's ideas about [[childhood ]] development and the notion that [[humans ]] were driven by the [[biological ]] forces of [[love ]] and hunger.Rise of the [[sciences]]

The sciences also experienced a boom during Freud's first few decades in [[Vienna]]. In addition to Darwin's writings, most notably The Origin of [[Species]], published between the years 1859 and 1880, there were numerous other avenues of innovation. Alfred Noble invented dynamite. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Vienna was eager to join the ranks of Europe's leading cities and showcased its latest innovations during the Vienna [[World]]'s Fair in 1873, which Freud eagerly attended.Revolt against [[Jews]]

With Vienna's prosperity also came a growing prejudice against the newly arrived Jews of eastern Europe. And when the populist, anti-Semitic Karl Lueger was elected as the city's new mayor in 1897, Freud and his fellow [[liberal]], middle-[[class ]] Jews were revolted.

The First World War created a significant uproar in Europe as it was sparked by the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian attempt to punish the Serbs for the assassination instigated a series of [[threats ]] and counter-threats by the European powers. Eventually almost all of Europe became involved in a war that lasted far longer than anyone had expected and resulted in the defeat of the Central Powers and the [[destruction ]] of the Austro-Hungarian [[Empire]].

During this four-year period when the war was being waged, the psychoanalytic movement slowed its prewar growth but survived. During the war years, all international congresses were canceled, since half of the nations represented at the International Psychoanalytic [[Association]]'s were at war with nations represented by the other half. Communications between members were restricted for the same [[reason]]. In 1918, with the war winding down, the fifth International Psychoanalytic Congress met in Budapest, Hungary, and attracted a number of [[government ]] officials from [[Austria]], Germany, and Hungary. This was a direct result of interest sparked by the application of psychoanalysis to war [[neuroses]].[[World War II]], 1939–1945

By the time World War II started, Freud was famous, and the psychoanalytic movement was well established. [[Internal ]] [[conflict ]] between Freud and key members of the Psychoanalytic [[Society ]] had resulted in the resignation of several important [[figures]], including [[Jung ]] and Adler. The society had resettled by the beginning of the Second World War. The most significant [[event ]] for Freud and the psychoanalytic movement during this time occurred in March 1938, when the German [[Nazis ]] invaded Austria. The event [[forced ]] Freud to flee to England and fragmented the Psychoanalytic Society for several years. It also marked a turning point for Freud as he began to recede into the background of the movement and allowed [[others]], his daughter Anna in [[particular]], to assume greater leadership over the direction the movement would take.