Otto Gross
Austrian psychoanalyst
Otto Gross Rank
About Otto Gross
Austrian psychoanalyst Otto Gross, was an ardent follower of Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Freud himself referred to Otto along with Carl Jung, as "the only truly original minds" among his adherents.
Background
Otto grew up in the care of a domineering father and a dutiful mother. Impressed by his father to study medicine, Otto enrolled as a ship’s surgeon and set sail for then-primitive South America upon obtaining his medical degree.
Positioning in Psychoanalysis
Contrary to Freudian Psychoanalysis, which was grounded on personal therapy, Otto held the view that external influences such as culture and social structures need to be altered to accommodate full individual expression for optimum mental well-being. Otto was against any form of social control.
Ascona Community
Otto’s views led him to engage with the Swiss community of Ascona. The Ascona community was the meeting place for the queer-minded. Many variations of unorthodox culture and often outright immoral ways of life found free-expression here.
Moral Deterioration
Otto would soon become a central figure in this community, having found fertile ground to engage in unconventional psychoanalytic experiments and share his “free-thinking” beliefs en masse; from the use of mind-altering drugs; to engaging in sex-therapy; to promoting euthanasia; to preaching anarcho-communism; to embracing neo-paganism.
Death
In 1920, Gross died of pneumonia shortly after he was found near-starved and freezing on the street at age 43.
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F.A.Q. about Otto Gross
When is his birthday?
Otto Gross' birthday is on March 17, 1877.
In how many days is his birthday?
Otto's birthday is in 333 days
How old was Otto when he died?
He was 42 years old.
When did he die?
He died in February 13, 1920.
How old would he be today?
Otto Gross would be 147 years old if he was alive today.
Where was Otto from?
He was born in Gniebing-Weißenbach, Austro-Hungarian Empire.