Géza Róheim facts for kids

Géza Róheim (Hungarian: Róheim Géza; September 12, 1891 – June 7, 1953) was an important thinker from Hungary. He was a psychoanalyst and an anthropologist. This means he studied both the human mind and human cultures.

Many people believe he was the most important person to combine these two fields. He helped create a new area of study called psychoanalytic anthropology. He was also the first psychoanalyst to do research by living with and observing different cultures. Later, he developed a big theory about how cultures work.

Life Story

Géza Róheim was the only child in a wealthy family in Budapest, Hungary. He studied geography and anthropology at different universities. These included universities in Leipzig and Berlin, and finally in Budapest. He earned his doctorate degree in 1914.

In 1919, he became the first professor of anthropology at the University of Budapest. He also joined the local group of psychoanalysts. A famous psychoanalyst named Sándor Ferenczi helped Róheim with his own psychoanalysis. Róheim then became a teacher for other psychoanalysts.

Because he was Jewish, Róheim had to leave Hungary in 1939. This was just before World War II began. He moved to New York City in the United States. After the war, he could not go back to Hungary because it was under communist rule. So, he lived the rest of his life in New York.

Even though he found it hard to fit into American university groups, he still got help from important people. These included Margaret Mead and Edward Sapir. Róheim wrote many books and articles. He also taught through private classes he organized.

His Work and Ideas

Róheim is most famous for a trip he took with his wife, Ilonka. In 1929, they spent nine months in central Australia. They lived near a mission and studied the Arrernte and Pitjantjatjara people. His writings about these groups became very well known in the world of psychoanalysis.

He also did field research in other parts of the world. These places included Melanesia, parts of North America, and the Horn of Africa.

Róheim's main idea about culture was interesting. He believed that culture comes from the long time human children depend on their parents. This long period of childhood allows for lots of exploration and play. He thought this playtime was very important for how cultures develop.

Books and Publications

See also

In Spanish: Géza Róheim para niños

• Dreamtime
• Folktales
• Life Against Death
• Magical thinking
• Neoteny