The main aims of this book are to introduce the distinctive clinical paradigms of Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott, to compare and contrast the way in which their theories evolved, and to present a dialogue between Hinshelwood and Abram on the concepts of their respective chapters. The book is presented in five parts, each with two chapters by Hinshelwood and Abram on five chosen topics: Basic Principles, Early psychic development, The role of the external object, The psychoanalytical concept of psychic pain, and Practice and Theory. After the pair of chapters in each part, a summary of the main points is presented followed by a dialogue between Abram and Hinshelwood about each other's chapter. The readership intended is both those coming new to psychoanalytic ideas, who will gain an introduction to both these schools of British Object Relations psychoanalysis, and also those experienced psychoanalysts who wish to develop an understanding of how the conceptualisations of these two schools might be compared and contrasted.

About the Author
Jan Abram is a training and supervising analyst of the British Psychoanalytical Society in private practice in London. She is the author of 'The Language of Winnicott' (awarded Outstanding Academic Book of the Year; 2nd edition 2007) and editor of 'Donald Winnicott Today' (nominee for a Gradiva Award, 2013). She is currently visiting professor University College London. Her forthcoming book is a collection of her clinical papers, 'The Surviving Object'. R.D. Hinshelwood is a member of the British Psychoanalytical Society, and currently holds the post of Professor of Psychoanalysis at the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and previously was Clinical Director of the Cassel Hospital in Richmond. He is a past Chair of the Association of Therapeutic Communities. Professor Hinshelwood has written extensively on psychoanalysis and founded the 'International Journal of Therapeutic Communities' (now 'Therapeutic Communities') in 1980 and the 'British Journal of Psychotherapy' in 1984.

Reviews

"This is an important and innovative book for all modern psychoanalysts; lucidly written, it compares and contrasts the work of Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott with a lively dialogue between Abram and Hinshelwood. This throws new light on the work of both these major psychoanalytical figures, deepening our understanding of them and the interaction between them. The authors highlight the very contrasting ways in which Klein and Winnicott developed theoretically moving on from Freud in studying early development. This was despite Klein's great influence on Winnicott. A future classic I found it hard to put down."-Nick Temple, Training Analyst and former President of the British Psychoanalytical Society; Former CEO, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

"This book is really exceptional due to the highly original formula of a dialogue between two renowned scholars on Klein and Winnicott. Each voice speaks out of conviction and identity with their respective author and there is something very truthful in the exchange, due to the personal and direct style of the dialogue that retains a scientific approach. Following each dialogue the reader is captured time and again and challenged to reconsider previous understandings. The published discussions have much the same effect as the direct dialogue had during the Warsaw conference, when people were most impressed to see that it was possible to have a true scientific and clinical exchange on such radically different psychoanalytic schools of thought. The book will certainly contribute to the culture of 'hot' psychoanalytic discussions."-Anna Czownicka, Ph.D., Training Analyst and former President of the Polish Psychoanalytical Society

Book Information
ISBN 9781782203100
Author Jan Abram
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Karnac Books
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd