Love, Guilt and Reparation: And Other Works 1921-1945

by Melanie Klein

This book shows the growth of Melanie Klein's work and ideas between 1921 and 1945, and traces her theories on childhood development, criminality and childhood psychosis, symbol formation, and the early development of conscience.

Melanie Reizes Klein (30 March 1882 – 22 September 1960) was an Austrian-born British psychoanalyst who devised novel therapeutic techniques for children that had an impact on child psychology and contemporary psychoanalysis. She was a leading innovator in theorizing object relations theory. Klein had a major influence on the theory and technique of psychoanalysis, particularly in Great Britain. As a divorced woman whose academic qualifications did not even include a bachelor's degree, Klein was a visible iconoclast within a profession dominated by male physicians.

After the arrival of Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalyst daughter, Anna Freud, in London in 1938, Klein’s ideas came into conflict with those of Continental analysts who were migrating to Britain. Following protracted debates between the followers of Klein and the followers of Anna Freud during the 1940s (the so-called 'controversial discussions'), the British Psychoanalytical Society split into three separate training divisions: (1) Kleinian, (2) Anna Freudian, and (3) independent. This division remains to the current time.

Kleinian psychoanalysis remains a large and influential school of psychoanalysis within Britain, in much of Latin America, and to an extent in continental Europe. Melanie Klein's works are collected in four volumes, of which this is volume One. A timeless book: the pioneering and fascinating work of Melanie Klein who shaped child psychoanalysis. Her work is second only to S. Freud.

Genres: Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Theory, Science, Womens

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

An Austrian-born British psychoanalyst who devised novel therapeutic techniques for children that had a significant impact on child psychology and contemporary psychoanalysis. She was a leading innovator in theorizing object relations theory.

Reviews

[Paul Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good stuff here - particularly enjoyed the title essay.

[ZiaFenice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davvero una bellissima lettura che spinge ad una riflessione personale sulle relazioni che siano tra se stessi , con gli altri e in amore. Da leggere almeno una volta nella vita

[aerialxav]

Title chapter

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see why psychoanalytic theory turned into a bit of a joke after awhile. depressive position though, good to be aware of that. beginnings of good and bad internal objects.

[Juan Sebastián De los Ríos Forero · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Si en nuestro temprano desarrollo hemos podido transferir interés y amor de nuestra madre a otras personas y hemos obtenido nuevas gratificaciones, entonces y sólo entonces, podremos en el futuro obtener placer de otras fuentes. Esto nos permite compensar, mediante un nuevo vínculo afectivo, los fracasos o desengaños que sufrimos, bien como aceptar sustitutos para lo que no hemos logrado conseguir o conservar. Si la voracidad frustrada, el resentimiento y el odio no perturban la relación con el mundo externo, hay infinidad de modos de extraer de él belleza, bondad y amor. Al hacerlo, acrecentamos continuamente nuestro acervo de recuerdos felices y este acopio de valores nos da una seguridad difícil de vulnerar y un bienestar íntimo que aleja la amargura. Además del placer que proporcionan, estas satisfacciones tienen el efecto de mitigar las frustraciones (o mejor, el sentimiento de frustración) pasadas y presentes, incluso las primeras y fundamentales. Cuanto más satisfacción auténtica logremos, menor será nuestro resentimiento ante las privaciones y menos nos dominarán la voracidad y el odio. Seremos entonces realmente capaces de aceptar de otros amor y bondad, de brindárselos y, en retribución, de recibir más aún. En otras palabras, la capacidad esencial de "dar y recibir" se desarrolla de tal manera que nos asegura satisfacciones y contribuye al placer, al bienestar o a la felicidad de otras personas".

Bella lectura. Un texto con el que fácilmente se pueden entender los movimientos que tienen los afectos en hombres y mujeres hacia ellos y ellas mismas y el Otro, partiendo del niño y la niña y su relación con el padre y la madre.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Famosissima psicoanalista dell'infanzia Melanie Klein ci appare oggi di limitato interesse e superata per quanto attiene i contenuti. Senza nulla togliere alla importanza del rapporto del neonato/bambino con la madre o comunque all'importanza per la sua crescita dell'atto del ricevere nutrimento (qualsiasi) e delle sensazioni di piacere/bisogno/frustrazione che a questo sono connesse, non si può accettare l'idea che tutto lo sviluppo psicologico della persona o dei suoi sentimenti di amore o di odio per gli altri dipenda da un seno buono/cattivo. Inoltre il testo pecca per una idea obsoleta e strettamente borghese del ruolo della donna nella famiglia e nella società (esempio di desiderio femminile è guardare le vetrine e fare acquisti, oltre che la fantomatica invidia del pene), per l'assenza di considerazione del ruolo di altre figure di accudimento compreso il padre e per un approccio apodittico della discussione che si svolge su un piano completamente teorico. Le autrici non si preoccupano di dimostrare la sostenibilità delle loro affermazioni, non ci sono osservazioni sperimentali e nemmeno casi clinici significativi da cui evincere le basi delle loro tesi; si usano frasi come "tutti sappiamo", "generalmente si ritiene" che francamente pongono il testo completamente al di fuori di qualsiasi contesto scientifico. Infine non ci piace il modello conformistico e moderato della vita e della felicità che viene proposto, laddove non sembra esserci spazio per soluzioni personali anche diverse e originali persino quando si cita il mondo dell'arte.

[Anar Mehrälijev]

The title essay was an immersive read. It was rather slow, yet generous enough to afford insights. Though not explicitly defined, in the essay, the way Klein conceptualizes “phantasy” becomes clear. For example, she mentions the baby’s urge to harm the perceivedly “bad breast” in their phantasy and repair it in another. Injuring the source of pleasure even in phantasy provokes an irresistible sense of guilt, which makes the baby want to repair the phantasy-inflicted damage. With a capacity for reparation, love thrives.

[Mohsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

reading klein is sth that never gets old. the bravery that this woman had, to talk about ideas differently than Freud, in the era that i think most tired to be as Freudian as possible, is sth inspiring. i really loved it. there are ofcourse some part of this book that are not applicable nowadays, like those part-object interpretations. but hey! thats how ideas develop, they change overtime.

[Anonymous Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece!

[Elisa Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 saggi che forniscono spunti interessanti su cui fermarsi a riflettere. Ripeto, su cui riflettere, non da prendere per vera ogni singola parola.

[asif-wtv-getthepictureduh]

I focused on the essay "Love, Guilt, and Reparation" (1937), but have yet to read the other essays

the world is made up of good breasts and our longing for them

[Noah Christiansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read:
- The Importance of Symbol-Formation in the Development of the Ego (1930)

[Mawr · Rating 5 out of 5]

These writings show the evolution of Klein's thought, in particular the origins of object relations theory, and how she was already breaking off from strict Freudian orthodoxy and developing her own individual views on the growth of a child's mind. Her theories on the love/hate relationship a child has with his parents really resonate with my own experiences. This book is well worth a read; I'm already eagerly anticipating a good reading of her 'Psychoanalysis of Children', which is next on my list!

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro para entender la complejidad del amor y odio.