First Year of Life: A Psychoanalytic Study of Normal and Deviant Development of Object Relations

by René A. Spitz, W. Godfrey Cobliner

Book by Spitz, Rene A., Cobliner, W. Godfrey

Genres: Psychology

394 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1966

Reviews

[Herrholz Paul]

The author states in the introduction that this book is intended for the general reader as well as for psychologists and academics. This I found to be broadly true although there is quite a lot of complex language and words which I needed to look up. This is a learning process in itself and so not unwelcome. The author also says that the findings of studies used in this book originate from within one culture, and that the results might be different if taken from a wider source.
I found this book not only useful as a study of the infant, but also there is much here to provide enlightenment when considering our lives in a more holistic, broader sense. For instance;
P. 135 How adults tend to lose sensitivity to the realm of the coenesthetic, (intuitive or sensual perception). And that people such as artists, or those with heightened perception maintain a ‘talent’ in this area.
And; The Role Of Frustration In learning and Development.
‘Sensations of a pleasurable nature have not anything impelling about them, whereas unpleasurable ones have it in the highest degree. The latter impel towards change’ Freud (1923).
I imagine that a proportion of those reading this book will be doing so in order to research their own life story. I include myself in this number. One task now before me would be the investigation of my own relationship with my mother in the early years. This could be a more challenging task. One thing which I find useful to contemplate, is that awareness is already a major step in any psychoanalytic endeavour. I see awareness as a position of strength. A rock, from which to survey the uncharted landscape. A good example of this is with Transactional Analysis. Being aware of the Parent, Adult and Child being expressed by someone, or indeed by yourself, can help you to respond in an appropriate way.
The final chapter looks at the work of Piaget which is relevant to the subject of this book. Whereas Spitz is primarily concerned with deviations from a healthy development of the infant, Piaget’s work is more focused on exploring the processes of development without focusing specifically on the pathological outcomes.

[Charlyn L. barba]

Zz

[Vania]

Un interesante estudio llevado a cabo por el psicoanalista René Spitz entorno a la relación de la díada madre-hijo, en donde se investigó a su vez las repercusiones que podria tener ésta en el psiquísmo y en la posible influencia (más tarde comprobado que si) que esta relación podria tener en la génesis de psicopatologías. Como tambien otros aspectos que consideró relevantes para estudio, tomando en consideración el primer año de vida en el infante como configurador a nivel psíquico de su posterior desarrollo.

Es definitivamente un must read tanto para estudiantes de psicología como profesionales del área de salud mental.

[Leonardo]

Sobre las relaciones sociales como método de curación. Hospitalismo.

[Andy]

Informativo🧐
sobre el proceso de relaciones objetales de madre-hijo y sus factores y características de un recién nacido en su vida desde el momento de nacer e iniciar el proceso de maduración.

[Rodrigo Díaz]

Preparación para terapeutas pero también para futuros padres y madres.

[Gusgus]

Cómo odio ese libro :v

[José Farinha]

Very good account of pre-objectal relations and the importance of relationship with mother.