Wilhelm Stekel

Wilhelm Stekel (March 18, 1868 – June 25, 1940) was an Austrian physician and psychologist, who became one of Sigmund Freud's earliest followers, a self-described apostle. He later had a falling-out with Freud. His works were translated in many languages. A biographical account appeared in The Self-Marginalization of Wilhem Stekel (2007) by Jaap Bos and Leendert Groenendijk, which also includes his correspondence with Sigmund Freud.

Born in Bujon, Bukowina, he wrote a book called Auto-erotism: A Psychiatric Study of Onanism and Neurosis, first published in English in 1950. His Autobiography was also published in 1950. Stekel died in London, by his own hand. He was married twice and left two children.

He is quoted in J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. It has also been speculated that Stekel was the analyst after which Italo Svevo modeled the narrator in his famous Confessions of Zeno.