Psychoanalysis and sexology in Rio de Janeiro between the two world wars: between science and self improvement

Abstract

The beginning of psychoanalysis and sexology in Brazil takes place in the 1920's. It develops along the 30's and 40's. During this period, there is also a remarkable increase in the number of papers by other kind of specialists in sex, as well as translations and publications of European and North American authors that are considered today as the founders of such areas of studies. We have tried to go deeper into this intellectual mist, which began to surround the issue of sex in Brazil during that period of time. In order to do so, we have analyzed the publishing industry of the time, focusing the publications on this topic. Starting with the different relations these new subjects established with medicine, we have tried to understand the different trends they produced in Brazilian intellectual domains.