Overview

• Historical Antecedents
• Zeitgeist
• Professional Obstacles/Struggles
• Theories and Ideas
• Data on Theories and Ideas
• Strengths and Weaknesses
• Influence on Events and Ideas
 Historical Antecedents

• Psychoanalysis
– Idea of unconscious

• Sigmund Freud
– His book, On Dreams
– Idea of Oedipus Complex
 Zeitgeist
• Post WWI Germany
– Movement of Behaviorism
• WWII Europe
– Genocide- anti-Semitism
• Field of Psychology
– Psychoanalysis
– Behaviorism
– Gestalt
 Professional
Obstacles/Struggles
• Female

• Divorced

• Jewish

• Mood Disorder

• Conflict with Anna Freud

 Theories & Ideas
• Play Therapy
– Free Play = Free Association
• Dramatization of fantasies
• Symbolism in play
• Conflict resolution
– The Therapy Setting
• Furniture
• Toys
 Theories & Ideas
• Object Relations Theory
– Superego = introjected parental figure
• Parental Body Parts
• Combined Parental Figure
• Intercourse
• Individuals
– Depressive Position
– Today’s Object Relations Theory
Data on Theories & Ideas
• Based on Freud
– Breaking away from the pack

• Case Studies
– Adults- Idea of fantasy

– Children- importance of ego development

• Play therapy
 Strengths & Weaknesses

• Strengths • Weaknesses
– Importance of early – Lack of controlled
development studies

– Direct treatment of – Theories based on

children
personal, clinical
experience
– Formation of play
therapy
– Lack of agreement with
– Use of free association fellow psychoanalysis
 Influence on
Events & Ideas
• Systemized Direct Treatment of Children
• Initiation of Child Psychoanalysis
• Emphasized Importance of Interpersonal
Relationships in Psychoanalysis
• Object Relations Theory
• Psychoanalytic theory
• Kleinian theory is still influential as a distinctive
strain of psychoanalytic theory.
 Summary
True or False

Melanie Klein was a black woman who’s own

husband’s work in psychoanalysis is
greater than her own.

FALSE!!!! Melanie was Jewish and the

difference between her and many other
women of the time is that she is known
because of HER work and only hers.
 Summary
True or False
Melanie Klein and Anna Freud were best friends and that
is the reason why Freud influenced a lot of her work.

False!!! Melanie and Anna were not friends

at all in fact they had two completely
different ideas for child psychology.
 Summary
True or False
Play therapy and object relation theory emerged from her
efforts.

TRUE!!! And FALSE!! Melanie

Klein did play a huge role in
developing and contributing ideas
to both the object relation
theory and play therapy.