MSc in Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies

Anna Freud and the Classical Tradition
Autumn Term 2009
Coordinators: Ms Viviane Green, Mrs Susan Loden and Dr Edgard Sanchez

Aim: the unit aims to provide an introduction to the ideas of Anna Freud and what is know known as Classical Theory and Technique, which combines both Freudian and Anna Freudian concepts.

Objective: students should read some major works of Anna Freud and develop a critical understanding of the major conceptual developments which distinguish her work from those from other psychoanalytic traditions.

Seminar 1
ANNA FREUD
Friday 9th October 2.15-3.45pm
Ms. Viviane Green

The central objective of this seminar is to introduce the developmental perspective in child psychoanalysis. The seminar will begin by offering a brief overview of Anna Freud's work and metapsychology and will then focus on her staged view of child development in relation to the specific tasks in early childhood as outlined in the Developmental Lines.

ESSENTIAL READING:

Freud. A. (1965) 'The Psychoanalytic View of Childhood', Chapter 1 of Normality and Pathology in Childhood (The Hogarth Press, 1965).

Freud. A. (1965) The Concept of Developmental Lines pp 62 - 92, Chapter 3. 11 of Normality and Pathology in Childhood (The Hogarth Press, 1965).

Edgcumbe, R (2000) Anna Freud, a view of development, disturbance and therapeutic technique , chapter 6, p 114 - 130. London : Routledge.

Seminar 2
ANNA FREUD
Friday 16th October 2.15-3.45pm
Ms. Viviane Green

This seminar's objective is to introduce students to Anna Freud's psychodynamic formulations on the development of psychopathology. Close attention will be paid to external impingements and intrapsychic dimensions considered in the diagnostic profile.

ESSENTIAL READING:

Freud, A. (1972) 'A Psychoanalytic View of Developmental Psychopathology', Chapter 4 of The Writings of Anna Freud Vol. 8 (1970-1980)

Edgcumbe, R (2000) Anna Freud, a view of development, disturbance and therapeutic technique , part of chapter 5, p 93 - 113

Green, V (1995) Developmental Considerations and Diagnostic Assessments. Bulletin of the Anna Freud Centre 18.173

Seminars 3 & 4:
CLASSICAL FREUDIAN ANALYSIS: THEORY AND PRACTICE
Friday 23rd October 2.15-3.45 and 4.00-5.30pm

Mrs Susan Loden on Classical Theory
Dr Edgard Sanchez on Classical Practice

An introduction to the theory and technique of conducting analysis handed down from Freud and his co-workers in Vienna and Berlin , many of whom later emigrated to England and America in the 1930s. This is the tradition of Anna Freud, Fenichel, Sterba, Reich, Waelder, Greenson, and present day analysts such as Couch, Yorke, Blum and Arlow. We give an overview of mainstream Freudian theory as it evolved after the introduction of the structural theory, and introduce the clinical work of classical psychoanalysts, who aim to focus in a balanced way on transference, resistance, dreams, memories, past and present relationships, character defence and developmental reconstruction.

ESSENTIAL READING SEMINAR 3:

Freud, A. (1936) The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence, Chapters 1-3, pp.1-41.

Reich, W. (1930) On character analysis, in Fleiss, R. (1948), The Psychoanalytic Reader, Madison , Wisconsin :IUP.

Fenichal, O (1941) The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis, Part A: Introduction, pp.3-32

ESSENTIAL READING SEMINAR 4:

Couch, A. (1995) Anna Freud's adult psychoanalytic technique: a defence of classical psychoanalysis, IJPA 76: 153-170.

Lampl-De Groot, J. (1976), Personal experience with psychoanalytic technique and theory during the last half century. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child 31: 283-296.