Product Description

This work shows the growth of Klein's work and ideas between 1921 and 1945. The earlier papers reveal her intense preoccupation with the impact of infant anxieties upon child development. She traces these influences on criminality and childhood psychosis, symbol formation and intellectual inhibition and the early development of conscience. In the final paper on the Oedipus complex, Klein develops her theories of the earliest stages of infant development, extending Freud's analysis of the Oedipus complex and laying a basis for her own subsequent conceptualizing of the paranoid-schizoid position in the first six months of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76324 in Books
• Published on: 1998-08-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 468 pages

About the Author
Melanie Klein was born in Vienna in 1882, the youngest of four children. at about fourteen she decided to study medicine. With her brother's help she learnt enough Greek and Latin to pass into the Gymnasium but her early engagement and subsequent marriage in 1903 brought a halt to her plans. Years later, discovering a booklet on dreams by Freud, she turned her attentions to pyschoanalysis. At this time she was living in Budapest and began her own analysis with Ferenczi, who encouraged her interest in the analysis of children. In 1921 she moved to Berlin to continue her work with children, supported by Dr Karl Abraham, In 1926 she moved to London where she worked and lived until her death in 1960.

Customer Reviews

Melanie Klein a safe therapist for children?
Love, Guilt and Reparation: And Other Works 1921-1945 (The Writings of Melanie Klein, Volume 1)

This book includes a large selection of Klein's case studies. Using the case studies, Klein shows how her theories can be used with children. Her emphasis on symbol formation as integral to the development of the ego is interesting but difficult to really take on as a valid assumption. Although I don't like much of Klein's theory this book is helpful for students who are trying to see how she applies her work. However, this book doesn't explain the theoretical aspects of Klein's work which is a necessary foundation to understand the case studies included in Love, Guilt and Reparation.