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La fortezza vuota. L'autismo infantile e la nascita del sé

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Questo libro di Bettleheim è diventato un classico delta psicologia, una pietra miliare nello studio della schizofrenia e in particolare di quella sua forma grave e precoce che è l'autismo. Bettletheim ha scelto, dalla sua esperienza di terapeuta, alcuni dei casi meno curabili: non ha voluto celebrare le vittorie della medicina, ma mostrare, nelle sue manifestazioni più virulente e radicali, l'essenza della malattia. Quelle che narra sono esperienze emotive e intellettuali profonde, attraversate da domande e da dubbi che coinvolgono chi cura e chi è curato.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

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About the author

Bruno Bettelheim

119 books142 followers
Bruno Bettelheim (1903-1990) was an Austrian-born American child psychologist and writer. He gained an international reputation for his views on autism and for his claimed success in treating emotionally disturbed children.

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5 stars
18 (18%)
4 stars
17 (17%)
3 stars
23 (23%)
2 stars
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Cornelia.
Author 11 books198 followers
March 5, 2008
Bruno Bettelheim was a lying misogynistic sack of shit who caused pain and suffering to countless families desperate for help for their children.

Please don't believe a word the man wrote, especially on the topic of autism.

If you want to know why I hate him in detail, see my review of this execrable book at:

http://www.epinions.com/book-review-3...

If he were not already dead, I would be sorely tempted to remedy the situation. As it is, I yearn to dig him up from his grave so I can hit him over the head with my shovel post-mortem.
Profile Image for Arseny Khakhalin.
22 reviews4 followers
July 9, 2012
This book is so severely outdated, that it has become interesting and important again. Have you ever heard about this old school in psychology and psychiatry that deducted all psychiatric problems people have in their life from their early experience? That school that linked autism to the way parents _thought_ about their kids while they were pregnant; from they way they _looked_ at them when they were one month old? Well - that's the book! Autism meets psychoanalysis.

Since then this "theory" was debunked entirely and completely, but before it happened thousands of parents were taught to think that all the problems their kids have are their, parents' fault. And thousands of kids were taught to hate their parents for incorrect nursing and potty training that allegedly screwed their lives forever.

That's a great book if you need to feel a bit of righteous anger. And a very important historical source.
Profile Image for Peterv.
1 review2 followers
April 2, 2012
Interesting if only for when it was written. Psychoanalysis and Autism, the twain should not meet?
Profile Image for Barbara Spurll.
Author 17 books1 follower
January 3, 2015
Fascinating and contoversial book on autism. Bettelheim uses three case studies of autistic children in his clinic's care to discuss largely the nurture part of the equation when it comes to autism. Sounds kind of dry, doesn't it? I couldn't put it down.
Profile Image for Claudio Valverde.
348 reviews7 followers
October 29, 2017
Si bien no he leido otras textos sobre la mima problemática lo considero, dentro de un determinado abordaje ( psicoanaltico por cierto) como un estudio exhaustivo de esta problemática sobre la cual si duda no está todo dicho. Es un texto para mi apasionante, con rigor científico y por momentos sumamente conmovedor..
Profile Image for Irene Tanzman.
Author 2 books2 followers
October 26, 2018
I read this book because I am doing research for the historical fiction that I am currently writing. The book is pure garbage written by a charlatan. However, it has historical value, and is important for anyone writing about when the medical community believed that poor parenting caused autism.
1,640 reviews19 followers
June 29, 2021
Been meaning to read it for a while. How somebody could be so dense and yet so perceptive about people at the same time- like most people- is frustratingly true.
Profile Image for Lois.
793 reviews19 followers
December 25, 2022
An antiquated view but the first book I read on the subject.
5 reviews
January 16, 2023
The harsh criticisms have to ignore all of the exquisite gentleness and care that pours from this book. Extremely touching.
Profile Image for Grappa.
3 reviews
June 27, 2025
Testo illuminante di un autore ingiustamente ostracizzato perché scomodo a chi detiene il potere in famiglia.
123 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2025
No sé que valor científico tengan los postulados de Bettelheim, pero es un testimonio de su paciencia y devoción a los niños autistas. El último apartado donde compara con Piaget, es muy interesante.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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