The Trauma of Birth

Otto Rank, an Austrian psychologist, proposed that the fundamental cause of anxiety neurosis is a psychological trauma experienced during birth. His book, The Trauma of Birth, suggested that the transition from the womb to the external world creates significant anxiety in infants, which can persist into adulthood. This theory marked a departure from traditional psychoanalytic thought and led to Rank's break with Sigmund Freud and the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. While Rank's focus on birth trauma as the sole basis for psychological issues is debated, his emphasis on personal growth and self-actualization has been influential. The physical trauma of birth can also cause injuries to infants, though serious harm is rare.12