Ernst Jentsch

Ernst Jentsch was a German psychologist and philosopher best known for his work on the psychology of literature and emotion. He studied how humans experience feelings like irony, ambiguity, and uncertainty, emphasizing the importance of intellectual engagement with texts and art. Jentsch believed that understanding these complex emotional reactions required insight into the mind’s workings, and he explored how our perceptions and expectations influence our responses. His ideas contributed to theories of reader and viewer engagement, and he is often recognized for influencing later thinkers, including Sigmund Freud, especially regarding the psychological roots of horror and the uncanny.