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The Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies MSc aims:
- To give a grounding in the nature, history, content and context of psychoanalytic theories, as used by practicing psychoanalysts. Hence to educate students about one area of systematic psychology.
- To develop the ability and readiness to evaluate critically the claims, theories and nature of evidence in the area of psychoanalytic theory.
- To provide teaching that benefits from a) our position as a leading research department with links to scholars in other first rate universities, b) our collaboration with the British Psycho-Analytical Society, to provide first class teaching bridging clinical, theoretical and research perspectives.
- To select our students, provide them with guidance, teach them and assess their work, fairly and with care, so they will make the best of their academic potential.
- To provide a challenging and supportive intellectual environment that is international and culturally diverse.
Students taking the Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies MSc should, specifically:
- Gain an outline understanding of the medical and cultural context in which psychoanalysis began, together with its development over the following century
- Become familiar with the major theoretical and clinical works of Sigmund Freud
- Become aware of the central ideas characterising different theoretical groupings emerging from Freudian psychoanalysis including those deriving from Jacques Lacan and modern French psychoanalysis, Melanie Klein, the British Independent Group and the British Contemporary Freudian group.
- Undertake thematic teaching that addresses concepts such as trauma and psychopathology, looking at these areas from a variety of theoretical perspectives.
- Study psychoanalytic thinking in relation to psychopathology, clinical technique, philosophy, and the applications of psychoanalytic ideas to other disciplines, including cinema and literature.
- Through being taught by practicing analysts, become aware of how theory is rooted in clinical work.