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A PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST FOR WOODTURNERS Published in American Woodturner Fall 2002
Ernie Newman
Sigmund Freud may have been a closet woodturner. His published work makes no reference to woodturning but recently I was looking through my Uncle Stanley’s shed for an augur and came across some dusty sheets of yellowed paper. They showed sketches of turnings signed “S. Freud”. There were a couple of breast-like vessels [fig.1] and some disturbingly vigorous, masculine candlesticks. I was suspicious because Uncle Stanley is an incurable trickster. Maybe the drawings were fakes, maybe not. Could this really be the work of Sigmund Freud? Uncle Stanley was off on a trek in the wilds of Romania so I couldn’t contact him.
One drawing of a vase [fig.2] was obviously inspired by a voluptuous feminine form. It had two intriguing squiggles running diagonally across it. This puzzled me until I deciphered Uncle Stanley’s notations near the squiggles. Then it became clear that the sketch showed the nasty spiral cut caused by a violent catch. The first notation read “Freudian slip” and the second read “Jungian archetrip”. The sketch may indicate a failed attempt to turn the tricky “S” shaped, feminine curve. Perhaps it reveals a fear of failure, a fear that working with this form might be too challenging.
Some jottings in German strengthened the possibility that this was the work of Sigmund Freud and that he was a woodturner. There were references to “countless catches” and “bloody splits”. One page was headed “Wood Turners Malady“ and described “an obsessional condition, an addiction to wood turning”. The notes mention a letter from John Jacob Holtzapffel, a 19th century English turner, author and maker of ornamental lathes. The letter was undated but apparently written late in life.
Holtzapffel observed that many of the thousands who bought his lathes underwent “a sad transformation”. He noted that they quickly developed an obsessive interest in turning, to the exclusion of all other pursuits. Typically they spent “long hours at the lathe” and poured all their money into the craft “to the neglect of family, business and friends”. They ignored everyone apart from other turners who unfortunately “shared and reinforced the affliction”.
Often they “stopped taking pains” with their appearance and were seen with “wood shavings in their hair and apparel”. The shavings continually found their way throughout the homes of these “unfortunates” and, in severe cases, “repeatedly became lodged in their bedding resulting in intense marital disharmony and worse”. These turners appeared to be totally mesmerized with the tip of a gouge and incapable of seeing anything else in life.
Holtzapffel’s account led Freud, if it was Freud who wrote the notes, to develop a series of psychological tests to explore “wood turning and its discontents”. Part one of the tests is translated below. The tests may have been useful diagnostic tools as he writes with excitement, of “light at the end of the tunnel”. This phrase is interesting given Freud’s views on the imagery of trains rushing into tunnels. Whatever the success of the test, the treatment of these “pitiable addicts” proved frustrating, “All my patients are turning crazy as cut snakes.”
One form of treatment offered hope. Small groups of turners met to encourage each other to give up turning completely. The turners introduced themselves with the words, "My name is...and I am a woodturner" and went on to speak openly of their struggles to pursue a lathe free life.
After reading these notes I realized that quite a few of my woodturning friends exhibit some of the characteristics that Holtzapffel described and I persuaded some to complete the psychological test below. The results were disturbing. A psychiatrist told me that a significant number of her patients suffer from a similar condition known as, “Obsessive Bowl Syndrome”. Perhaps the publication of the test may help us gain a better understanding of what appears to be an alarming problem.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST FOR WOODTURNERS Published in American Woodturner Fall 2002
Ernie Newman
Sigmund Freud may have been a closet woodturner. His published work makes no reference to woodturning but recently I was looking through my Uncle Stanley’s shed for an augur and came across some dusty sheets of yellowed paper. They showed sketches of turnings signed “S. Freud”. There were a couple of breast-like vessels [fig.1] and some disturbingly vigorous, masculine candlesticks. I was suspicious because Uncle Stanley is an incurable trickster. Maybe the drawings were fakes, maybe not. Could this really be the work of Sigmund Freud? Uncle Stanley was off on a trek in the wilds of Romania so I couldn’t contact him.
One drawing of a vase [fig.2] was obviously inspired by a voluptuous feminine form. It had two intriguing squiggles running diagonally across it. This puzzled me until I deciphered Uncle Stanley’s notations near the squiggles. Then it became clear that the sketch showed the nasty spiral cut caused by a violent catch. The first notation read “Freudian slip” and the second read “Jungian archetrip”. The sketch may indicate a failed attempt to turn the tricky “S” shaped, feminine curve. Perhaps it reveals a fear of failure, a fear that working with this form might be too challenging.
Some jottings in German strengthened the possibility that this was the work of Sigmund Freud and that he was a woodturner. There were references to “countless catches” and “bloody splits”. One page was headed “Wood Turners Malady“ and described “an obsessional condition, an addiction to wood turning”. The notes mention a letter from John Jacob Holtzapffel, a 19th century English turner, author and maker of ornamental lathes. The letter was undated but apparently written late in life.
Holtzapffel observed that many of the thousands who bought his lathes underwent “a sad transformation”. He noted that they quickly developed an obsessive interest in turning, to the exclusion of all other pursuits. Typically they spent “long hours at the lathe” and poured all their money into the craft “to the neglect of family, business and friends”. They ignored everyone apart from other turners who unfortunately “shared and reinforced the affliction”.
Often they “stopped taking pains” with their appearance and were seen with “wood shavings in their hair and apparel”. The shavings continually found their way throughout the homes of these “unfortunates” and, in severe cases, “repeatedly became lodged in their bedding resulting in intense marital disharmony and worse”. These turners appeared to be totally mesmerized with the tip of a gouge and incapable of seeing anything else in life.
Holtzapffel’s account led Freud, if it was Freud who wrote the notes, to develop a series of psychological tests to explore “wood turning and its discontents”. Part one of the tests is translated below. The tests may have been useful diagnostic tools as he writes with excitement, of “light at the end of the tunnel”. This phrase is interesting given Freud’s views on the imagery of trains rushing into tunnels. Whatever the success of the test, the treatment of these “pitiable addicts” proved frustrating, “All my patients are turning crazy as cut snakes.”
One form of treatment offered hope. Small groups of turners met to encourage each other to give up turning completely. The turners introduced themselves with the words, "My name is...and I am a woodturner" and went on to speak openly of their struggles to pursue a lathe free life.
After reading these notes I realized that quite a few of my woodturning friends exhibit some of the characteristics that Holtzapffel described and I persuaded some to complete the psychological test below. The results were disturbing. A psychiatrist told me that a significant number of her patients suffer from a similar condition known as, “Obsessive Bowl Syndrome”. Perhaps the publication of the test may help us gain a better understanding of what appears to be an alarming problem.
THE SIGMUND FREUD PERSONALITY TEST FOR WOODTURNERS - PART ONE
This test has been devised to help woodturners understand their psychological make-up. Tick any answers that accurately describe your own response.
1/ When your tools get blunt do you
A/ Spend more time sharpening them than using them.
B/ Keep using them no matter how blunt they get.
C/ Buy new tools to avoid sharpening.
2/ When deciding which way to start cutting do you
A/ Always cut with the grain.
B/ Take pleasure in successfully cutting against the grain.
C/ Feel paralyzed by your confusion about grain direction and call your therapist.
3/ Do you believe that real men make
A/ Money.
B/ Baseball bats.
C/ Elegant scent bottles.
4/ Do you
A/ Refuse to make a drawing before you turn.
B/ Always make a drawing before you turn.
C/ Prepare two drawings when turning a pair of identical items.
5/ When you see a beautiful tree flourishing in the forest do you
A/ Thank God for nature's beauty.
B/ Chain yourself to the tree and sing.
C/ Imagine it slaughtered, quartered and spinning on the lathe.
6/ When you see an expert demonstrator making it all look easy do you
A/ Write at least six pages of notes.
B/ Point out that the tool is incorrectly sharpened, presented at the wrong angle and that a Swedish hook tool would have left a better finish.
C/ Sign on for lessons and buy the tool, the book and the dust-coat.
7/ When you strike a hidden void while turning a piece of wood do you
A/ Start again with another piece of wood.
B/ Keep going and talk about, "art", "unique character" and "respect for the organic nature of the material".
C/ Pack a mixture of shavings, sawdust and glue into the gap and swear a lot.
8/ Do you think of your beloved when you see
A/ A sensual "S" shaped Grecian urn.
B/ A bold cigar shape pointing to the heavens.
C/ The shavings you have walked onto the carpet.
9/ When selecting lathe speed do you
A/ Turn at top speed to get the job done quickly.
B/ Turn at a low speed to be sure it's safe.
C/ Spin the lathe by hand to be really sure.
10/ Do any of the these titles appeal to you
A/ Turning Beads and Coves the Correct Way.
B/ How To Have Fun With A Tool.
C/ Texas Skew Chisel Massacre.
If you found that only one or two answers applied to you then you are probably not addicted to woodturning. If three or four answers applied to you then you may be addicted. If you ticked five or more answers then you need immediate help. If you felt that none of the answers reflected your personality then you are not addicted but the fact that you bothered to complete the test is a bit of a worry.
Was the test devised by Freud? Uncle Stanley never did answer any of my questions about the notes or drawings, except to smile and say, “They are what they are.” In any case the test isn’t 100% reliable. I did it myself and had to tick quite a lot of answers even though I am definitely not addicted to woodturning. To be honest, I do turn quite a lot, every day actually. In fact, since the wife and kids left and I had to sell the house, I sometimes put in all-nighters but I’m not an addict. That’s for sure. Absolutely. I’m handling it.
This test has been devised to help woodturners understand their psychological make-up. Tick any answers that accurately describe your own response.
1/ When your tools get blunt do you
A/ Spend more time sharpening them than using them.
B/ Keep using them no matter how blunt they get.
C/ Buy new tools to avoid sharpening.
2/ When deciding which way to start cutting do you
A/ Always cut with the grain.
B/ Take pleasure in successfully cutting against the grain.
C/ Feel paralyzed by your confusion about grain direction and call your therapist.
3/ Do you believe that real men make
A/ Money.
B/ Baseball bats.
C/ Elegant scent bottles.
4/ Do you
A/ Refuse to make a drawing before you turn.
B/ Always make a drawing before you turn.
C/ Prepare two drawings when turning a pair of identical items.
5/ When you see a beautiful tree flourishing in the forest do you
A/ Thank God for nature's beauty.
B/ Chain yourself to the tree and sing.
C/ Imagine it slaughtered, quartered and spinning on the lathe.
6/ When you see an expert demonstrator making it all look easy do you
A/ Write at least six pages of notes.
B/ Point out that the tool is incorrectly sharpened, presented at the wrong angle and that a Swedish hook tool would have left a better finish.
C/ Sign on for lessons and buy the tool, the book and the dust-coat.
7/ When you strike a hidden void while turning a piece of wood do you
A/ Start again with another piece of wood.
B/ Keep going and talk about, "art", "unique character" and "respect for the organic nature of the material".
C/ Pack a mixture of shavings, sawdust and glue into the gap and swear a lot.
8/ Do you think of your beloved when you see
A/ A sensual "S" shaped Grecian urn.
B/ A bold cigar shape pointing to the heavens.
C/ The shavings you have walked onto the carpet.
9/ When selecting lathe speed do you
A/ Turn at top speed to get the job done quickly.
B/ Turn at a low speed to be sure it's safe.
C/ Spin the lathe by hand to be really sure.
10/ Do any of the these titles appeal to you
A/ Turning Beads and Coves the Correct Way.
B/ How To Have Fun With A Tool.
C/ Texas Skew Chisel Massacre.
If you found that only one or two answers applied to you then you are probably not addicted to woodturning. If three or four answers applied to you then you may be addicted. If you ticked five or more answers then you need immediate help. If you felt that none of the answers reflected your personality then you are not addicted but the fact that you bothered to complete the test is a bit of a worry.
Was the test devised by Freud? Uncle Stanley never did answer any of my questions about the notes or drawings, except to smile and say, “They are what they are.” In any case the test isn’t 100% reliable. I did it myself and had to tick quite a lot of answers even though I am definitely not addicted to woodturning. To be honest, I do turn quite a lot, every day actually. In fact, since the wife and kids left and I had to sell the house, I sometimes put in all-nighters but I’m not an addict. That’s for sure. Absolutely. I’m handling it.