MSc in Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies
Klein Reading List
Spring Term 2013
Coordinator - Dr Catalina Bronstein
Aim: the unit aims to provide an introduction to the ideas of Melanie Klein.
Objective: students should read some major works of Melanie Klein, and develop a critical understanding of the major conceptual developments which distinguish Melanie Klein and her followers from those in other psychoanalytic traditions, and particularly from Freud.
Background reading and/or general references:
Segal, Hanna: Introduction to the Work of Melanie Klein. Karnac Books, 1973.
Segal, Hanna: Klein. Fontana Modern Masters, 1979
Spillius, Elizabeth. (1994) Development in Kleinian Thought. Overview and Personal view. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, vol 14, no.3, pp324-364.
Petot, Jean-Michel: Melanie Klein, Vol I and II. International University Press, 1990.
Hinshelwood, R.D.: A Dictionary of Kleinian Thought. Free Association Books, 1989.
Bronstein, Catalina. (2001) Kleinian Theory. A Contemporary Perspective, London: Whurr.
Seminar 1
Friday 11th January 2.15-3.45pm
INTRODUCTION TO MELANIE KLEIN
Dr Catalina Bronstein
Historical view re: understanding the impact other psychoanalysts had on the development of her ideas. Biographical details. Specifics about which aspects of Freud’s work she chose to build upon. What was Melanie Klein’s starting point? Influence of Ferenczi and Abraham. Exploration of her first attempts at understanding the child’s mind and her educational approach based on idea of possible prevention of future intellectual inhibitions. Development of play technique. How development of this technique led to her discoveries. Possibility and reality of transference in young children. Clinical examples. Differences with Anna Freud.
ESSENTIAL READING:
Klein (1921): The Development of a child. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1, 1-51. Moodle
Klein (1955): The Psychoanalytic Play Technique: Its History and Significance. In Envy and Gratitude, p.122 Moodle
SUPPLEMENTARY READING:
Bronstein, Catalina chapter 1, Melanie Klein: Beginnings, Kleinian Theory. A Contemporary Perspective, London 2001, Whurr, pp 1-16
Klein (1926): The Psychological Principles of Early Analysis. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1, pp128-138.
Seminar 2
Saturday 12th January 11.15-12.45pm
UNCONSCIOUS PHANTASY
Dr Catalina Bronstein
Instinct theory in Klein. Phantasy as mental representation of instinct which includes phantasy of drive-fulfilling object. Study of Susan Isaacs’s paper on phantasy, examining also its historical and political implications in relation to the development of the British Psychoanalytical Society. Relationship between unconscious phantasy and anxiety. Study of the defensive aspects of phantasies as well as the wish-fulfilling ones. Differences with Freud’s concept of phantasy.
ESSENTIAL READING:
Isaacs Susan (1943): The Nature and Function of Phantasy. Developments in Psychoanalysis. Karnac Books, 1989. Moodle/PEP
Spillius, E (2001) Freud and Klein on the Concept of Phantasy, Kleinian Theory. A Contemporary Perspective, chapter 2, London, Whurr pp 17-31 Moodle
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
Klein (1930): The Importance of Symbol Formation in the Development of the Ego. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1, pp219-232. Moodle/PEP
Seminar 3
Friday 18th January 2.15-3.45pm
PARANOID-SCHIZOID POSITION
Mrs Priscilla Roth
Concept of “position”. Importance of the notion of “internal object” in M. Klein. Links with “unconscious phantasy”. Differences with developmental stages. Life/Death drives and their relation to part objects. Persecutory anxiety. Fear of annihilation of the ego and fragmentation. Early ego and superego. Primitive defence mechanisms, such as splitting, projective identification, idealization.
ESSENTIAL READING:
Klein (1946): Notes on Some Schizoid Mechanisms. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 3, pp1-24. Moodle
SUPPLEMENTARY READING:
Klein (1948): On the Theory of Anxiety and Guilt. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 3, pp25-42.
Klein (1952): Some Theoretical Conclusions Regarding the Emotional Life of the Infant. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 3, pp61-93.
Seminar 4
Saturday 19th January 11.15-12.45pm
DEPRESSIVE POSITION
Mrs Priscilla Roth
Depressive anxieties. Loss of good internal object. Links with notion of integration and whole objects. Lessening of projective identification and move towards introjection. Methods of defence against depressive anxiety: paranoid, manic, obsessional defences. Concern for the object. Understanding concepts of guilt and reparation.
ESSENTIAL READING:
Klein (1935): A Contribution to the Psychogenesis of Manic Depressive States. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1, pp262-289. Moodle
Klein (1940): Mourning and its Relation to Manic Depressive States. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1, pp344-369. Moodle
SUPPLEMENTARY READING:
Klein (1937): Love, Guilt and Reparation. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1, pp306-343.
Seminar 5
Friday 25th January 2.15-3.45pm
SYMBOL FORMATION
Dr Catalina Bronstein
Importance of understanding symbolic meaning of patient’s communications. It is through symbolism that unconscious phantasies are expressed (symptoms, dreams, play). Ernest Jones’ theory of symbolisation. Klein’s view of play as symbolic expression of unconscious conflicts, desires and phantasies. Link with projective identification and with schizo-paranoid and depressive positions. Segal’s development of concept of symbolic equation as different to symbolisation.
ESSENTIAL READING:
Klein (1930): The Importance of Symbol Formation in the Development of the Ego. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1, pp219-232. Moodle
Segal H. (1957): Notes on Symbol Formation. The Work of Hanna Segal, Jason Aronson, 1981, pp49-65. Moodle
SUPPLEMENTARY READING:
Jones Ernest (1916): The Theory of Symbolism. Papers in Psycho-Analysis.
Maresfield Reprints, London 1948.
Segal H. (1952): A Psychoanalytic Approach to Aesthetics. The Work of Hanna Segal, Jason Aronson, 1981, pp185-206.
Seminar 6
PROJECTIVE IDENTIFICATION AND TRANSFERENCE
Friday 1st February nb. 2.30-4.00pm
Dr David Bell
Early splitting mechanisms: projective identification as omnipotent phantasy of ridding the self of unwanted parts of personality that could be controlled in the object into which they are projected. Relief from anxiety of annihilation by forces inherent in the self. Introjection of dangerous, powerful and hostile object leading to severe, primitive superego. Object experienced as being imbued with projected qualities. Different ways of conceptualising projective identification: Rosenfeld and Bion. Projective identification as communication of psychic experience and as attack on the mind. Impact of these defence mechanisms on the analyst.
ESSENTIAL READING:
Klein, M (1955): On Identification. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 3, pp141-175. Moodle
Joseph, B (2001) Chapter on Transference in Kleinian Theory: A Contemporary Perspective, London 2001, Whurr. Moodle
SUPPLEMENTARY READING:
Bell, David (2001) Projective Identification. Chapter in Kleinian Theory A Contemporary Perspective, London 2001, Whurr.
Rosenfeld, H. 'Contribution to the Psychopathology of Psychotic States: The Importance of Projective Identification in the Ego Structure and the Object Relations of the Psychotic Patient'. In Melanie Klein Today, Vol 1: Mainly Theory, The New Library of Ps Analysis, Rourtledge, 117-137
Seminar 7
THE OEDIPUS COMPLEX
Saturday 9th February 1.45-3.15pm
Mr Richard Rusbridger
Early origins of Oedipus complex. Exploring its connection with concepts such as part objects, with sadism, anxiety and the superego. New origin of the concept of superego. Impact of oral and anal sadism on the initial forms of Oedipus complex. Oedipus complex in the girl and in the boy. Revision of the Freudian theory of female sexuality. Recognition of a feminine complex in the boy. Weaning as first feminine phase. Importance of establishment of depressive position to the outcome of the Oedipus Complex. Examples: clinical cases of Rita, Peter, Richard. Mention of some of the current views on the topic (e.g. R. Britton).
Essential reading:
Klein, M (1945). 'The Oedipus Complex in the light of early anxieties'. In The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol. 1, pp.370-419. Moodle
Rusbridger R J (2004). 'Elements of the Oedipus complex: a Kleinian account'. In The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 85: 731-48. Moodle
Supplementary reading:
Britton, R. (1989). 'The missing link: parental sexuality in the Oedipus Complex'. In The Oedipus Complex Today, ed. J. Steiner, London: Karnac Books.
