Mentalization and the changing aims of child psychoanalysis

Bibliographic Data

ID5796918
AuthorsP Fonagy (0000-0003-0229-0091, Anna Freud Centre), Mary Target (Anna Freud Centre)
Year1998
Volume8
Issue1
Pages87-114
Publication date1998-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychoanalytic Dialogues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1048-1885 • E-ISSN: 1940-9222
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10481889809539235
OpenAlexW2147448908
LanguageEN
Citations received84
References cited35

The interface of empirical work with child psychoanalysis at the Anna Freud Centre is part of the tradition of systematic study and research pioneered over many years by Anna Freud and her colleagues (A. Freud, 1962; Sandier, 1962; A. Freud 1965). George Moran initiated a program of work at the Anna Freud Centre, which, starting with the work on juvenile onset diabetes (Fonagy et al., 1991b), led us to ask fundamental questions about the nature of the child psychoanalysis, with important implications for technique. We acknowledged our debt by dedicating the lecture on which this paper is based to George Moran, whom we see as a worthy successor to Marianne Kris, both of them working within the tradition of Anna Freud. This article starts with observations that imply the need for a change in some aspects of our psychoanalytic model. Throughout child psychoanalysis is used to illustrate both the need for change and the character of the revision that is required. The authors, however, assert that, as is so often the case for explorations in child analysis, these ideas may be extrapolated to psychoanalytic approaches to adults, specifically individuals with borderline personality disorder

Mentalization · Child Therapy and Development · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications

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