Kleinian Theory

Melanie Klein's ideas were rooted in her early work with children and subsequently developed over many years of working with both children and adults. Even though she saw herself as following in Freud's footsteps, she was also an innovator who introduced a radical way of thinking about the internal world of the child, particularly the roles of anxiety, early defense mechanisms, unconscious fantasy and internalized objects. Her understanding of the early stages of mental development led to new formulations that extended the range of patients who could be psychoanalyzed. Melanie Klein's ideas had a profound impact on both British and international psychoanalysis as well as on other approaches to psychotherapy. Many of her followers have developed her theories into what is today a very rich, continually expanding school of thought. This book presents a clear account of the main theoretical concepts in Kleinian theory as postulated by Melanie Klein, together with newer developments and formulations. It is intended for both clinicians and those from various academic fields who are interested in the ongoing development of psychoanalytic theory.