The trauma of birth

The Trauma of Birth is a seminal work in which Otto Rank presents a bold reinterpretation of human psychology, placing the experience of birth at the center of emotional life. Rank argues that the separation from the mother at birth constitutes the first traumatic event, shaping anxiety, creativity, and the formation of the self throughout adulthood. Drawing on psychoanalysis, mythology, and cultural history, the book offers a provocative exploration of the origins of fear, attachment, and individuality, challenging orthodox Freudian theory and opening new perspectives on the human psyche.