Otto Rank: The Father of Perinatal Psychology and Author of the Birth Trauma Theory

Introduction

Otto Rank was an Austrian psychoanalyst, philosopher, writer, and the closest disciple of Sigmund Freud. Despite being one of the most underrated figures in the history of psychology, Rank had a profound impact on its development. His concept of birth trauma (Geburtstrauma) laid the foundation for what is now called perinatal psychology — the field that explores psychological aspects of conception, pregnancy, birth, and the first years of life.
Although Rank's ideas were initially met with skepticism or even hostility — especially by Freud himself — today they are increasingly supported by neuroscience, somatic therapies, and transpersonal psychology.

Brief Biography

• Years of Life: 1884–1939
• Born in Vienna to a Jewish family; studied literature, philosophy, and psychology
• One of the earliest and closest members of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society
• Worked with Freud from 1906 and edited psychoanalytic publications
• In 1924, published his key work The Trauma of Birth, which led to a break with Freud
• Later emigrated to the United States, where he developed client-centered therapy concepts that influenced Carl Rogers

Key Ideas of Otto Rank and Their Significance

1. Birth Trauma as the Primary Existential Crisis
In Das Trauma der Geburt und seine Bedeutung für die Psychoanalyse (1924), Rank proposed a revolutionary idea: the experience of birth is the first and most profound crisis in human existence, shaping unconscious fears, core beliefs, and behavioral patterns throughout life.
Source: Rank, O. (1924). The Trauma of Birth
English edition: Rank, O. (1993). The Trauma of Birth, Dover Publications.
Key points:

• Birth marks the transition from symbiotic unity with the mother to separate, autonomous being;
• This transition causes intense psychophysiological shock — anxiety, a sense of loss, and loneliness;
• Life afterward becomes an unconscious attempt to restore the lost unity — through love, creativity, religion, regression, etc.

Modern Response:
Studies in trauma psychology, psychosomatic medicine, EMDR, and somatic therapies confirm that birth and early experiences can have long-term effects on emotional development.

2. The Unconscious Drive for Regression and Symbolic "Return to the Womb"
Rank argued that many cultural, religious, and psychological phenomena — from mysticism to addiction — are tied to a deep desire to return to the lost paradise of the womb.
Philosophical Influence:
Rank’s idea of the "symbolic return to the womb" became a cornerstone for existential psychology and influenced philosophers like Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre.
Recommended Reading:

• Becker, E. (1973). The Denial of Death — expands on Rank's ideas about fear of death and birth trauma
• Grof, S. (1975). Realms of the Human Unconscious — a transpersonal interpretation of birth

3. Otto Rank as a Forerunner of Somatic and Perinatal Therapy
Later interpretations of Rank’s work influenced several key therapeutic figures:

• Stanislav Grof — author of the theory of perinatal matrices, frequently citing Rank
• Arthur Janov — founder of primal therapy, based on birth trauma
• Franz Ruppert and Thomas Verny — contemporary figures in perinatal psychology

Modern therapeutic approaches inspired by Rank’s ideas:

• Prenatal and birth regression
• Holotropic breathwork
• Working with birth history in systemic constellations and integrative therapy

How Rank’s Ideas Are Being Validated Today


Criticism and Recognition

At the time of the publication of The Trauma of Birth, Freud strongly opposed Rank’s ideas, believing that he was oversimplifying and replacing the Oedipus complex. As a result, a rupture occurred between them.
However:

• By the mid-20th century, Rank’s ideas had been “rehabilitated”;
• Carl Rogers named him as one of his main sources of inspiration;
• Today, Rank is recognized as the first psychologist to emphasize the importance of early, pre-verbal, and unconscious experience.

Conclusion: The Significance of Rank for Modern Perinatal Psychology

Otto Rank was the first in the history of psychoanalysis to speak about birth as an existential event that shapes personality. Today, his contribution can be seen as foundational for understanding the primary human experience — one that is being integrated both into academic science and into deep therapeutic practice.
Perinatal psychology of the 21st century is not only about pregnancy and childbirth but also about how the earliest experiences shape self-perception, relationships, and life patterns. In this context, the work of Otto Rank remains fundamental.

Sources and Recommended Reading:

• Rank, O. (1924). The Trauma of Birth. Dover Publications.
• Becker, E. (1973). The Denial of Death. Free Press.
• Grof, S. (1985). Beyond the Brain: Birth, Death, and Transcendence in Psychotherapy. SUNY Press.
• Janov, A. (1970). The Primal Scream.
• Verny, T., & Kelly, J. (1981). The Secret Life of the Unborn Child.
• Chamberlain, D. (1998). The Mind of Your Newborn Baby.
• Castellino, R. (2000). Prenatal and Birth Therapy.

Author of the article: Svetlana Votyakova
Perinatal psychologist, researcher of early human development