I read this book after reading Adam Philips (1,2). Winnicott’s accessible writing has answered questions I had about adult behaviours  and encouraged me to research further into psychoanalysis (3,4,5).

Donald Winnicott (1896-1971) was a Paediatrician before becoming a psychoanalyst. Observing child behaviour led to his papers on the transitional object, the infant’s first ‘not me ‘ possession and the child’s use of that object. Winnicott writes about a relationship with which most of us can identify; the attachment to, and use of an object. How this object can become an obsession, a fetish, be disregarded and abandoned, or mainly be that which enables us to manage loss and separation. The object in the psychoanalytic sense develops from internalized emotions or feelings that can also be projected externally. Initially the baby is unable to distinguish between itself and the breast. Building on Melanie Klein’s theories of the satisfied or unsatisfied feelings the baby projects and splits into the Good and Bad Breast (3), Winnicott develops the concept of the ‘good enough’ mother who can contain the anger and frustration and enable the pleasure, thereby creating a ‘space’ for creativity and play.

Further relevant chapters on the development of self, the use of fantasy, and aggression with objects and the identification of the ‘girl’ in both males and females and bisexuality have influenced the meaning behind my practice.

Combining commentary and extracts from written psychoanalytic papers, with extracts from case notes of therapy sessions with patients creates a diverse, informed and readable view of Winnicott’s thinking.

 

1 Philips, A. (1998). The Beast in the Nursery, New York: Vintage.

2 Philips, A. (1988). Winnicott, London; Fontana

3 Segal, S. (1975). Introduction to the Work of Melanie Klein, London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis

4. Bion, W.E. (1967) Second Thoughts, Selected Papers on Psycho Analysis, New York;Jason Aronson.

5 Meltzer, D. (1973) Sexual States of Mind, Edinburgh; Clunie Press