MSc in Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies

Klein and Bion Reading List
Autumn Term 2009 [Seminars 1-6]
Coordinator - Dr Catalina Bronstein

This unit runs in both the autumn and spring terms.

Aim: the unit aims to provide an introduction to the ideas of Melanie Klein. During the unit three seminars will be dedicated to exploring the work of Bion focussing on some of his most important theoretical developments.

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 9th October 4.00-5.30pm
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. Folder

Klein (1932): The Technique of Early Analysis. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol II (The Psycho-Analysis of Children), pp16-34. Folder

SUPPLEMENTARY READING:

Bronstein , Catalina chapter 1, Melanie Klein: Beginnings, Kleinian Theory. A Contemporary Perspective , London 2001, Whurr, pp 1-16 Folder

Klein (1926): The Psychological Principles of Early Analysis. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1 , pp128-138. Folder

Seminar 2
Friday 16th October 4.00-5.30pm
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. Folder

Spillius, E (2001) Freud and Klein on the Concept of Phantasy, Kleinian Theory. A Contemporary Perspective , chapter 2, London , Whurr pp 17-31 Folder

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

Klein (1930): The Importance of Symbol Formation in the Development of the Ego. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1 , pp219-232. Folder

Seminar 3
Friday 6th November 4.00-5.30pm
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. Folder

SUPPLEMENTARY READING:

Klein (1948): On the Theory of Anxiety and Guilt. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 3 , pp25-42. Folder

Klein (1952): Some Theoretical Conclusions Regarding the Emotional Life of the Infant. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 3 , pp61-93. Folder

Seminar 4
Saturday 7th November 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. Folder

Klein (1940): Mourning and its Relation to Manic Depressive States. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1 , pp344-369. Folder

SUPPLEMENTARY READING:

Klein (1937): Love, Guilt and Reparation. The Writings of Melanie Klein, Vol 1 , pp306-343.
Folder

Seminar 5
Friday 20th November 4.00-5.30pm
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. Folder- see Seminar 2

Segal H. (1957): Notes on Symbol Formation. The Work of Hanna Segal , Jason Aronson, 1981, pp49-65. Folder

SUPPLEMENTARY READING:

Jones Ernest (1916): The Theory of Symbolism. Papers in Psycho-Analysis .
Maresfield Reprints, London 1948. Folder

Segal H. (1952): A Psychoanalytic Approach to Aesthetics. The Work of Hanna Segal , Jason Aronson, 1981, pp185-206. Folder

Seminar 6
Saturday 21st November 11.15-12.45pm
THE OEDIPUS COMPLEX
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. Folder

Rusbridger R J (2004) 'Elements of the Oedipus complex: a Kleinian account'. In The International Journal of Psychoanalysis , 85: 731-48. Folder

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.

Seminars 7-10 to follow in the spring term.