Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego is a foundational work in which Sigmund Freud extends psychoanalytic theory beyond the individual psyche to examine the psychological forces that bind people into groups. In this Standard Edition, expertly translated and edited by James Strachey, Freud’s arguments are presented with exceptional clarity and scholarly rigor, preserving both the precision and nuance of the original German text. Freud investigates how identification, suggestion, and libidinal ties dissolve individual autonomy within crowds, institutions, and mass movements, revealing why groups often act irrationally and submissively toward authority. The volume is further enriched by a biographical and intellectual introduction by historian Peter Gay, situating the essay within Freud’s broader body of work and the cultural tensions of early twentieth-century Europe. Together, Strachey’s authoritative translation and Gay’s contextual framing make this edition the definitive English-language version of Freud’s influential exploration of collective psychology.
About the Author
Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Freud’s pioneering theories on the unconscious mind, defense mechanisms, dreams, and the structure of personality—especially the concepts of the id, ego, and superego—have had a profound influence on psychology, literature, and cultural theory. In Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, Freud applies his psychoanalytic framework to the study of social groups and collective behavior, expanding the reach of his thought beyond individual psychic development.
