The Klein-Winnicott Dialectic: Transformative New Metapsychology and Interactive Clinical Theory

by Susan Kavaler-Adler

Overview

The Klein-Winnicott Dialectic: Transformative New Metapsychology and Interactive Clinical Theory brings together the theories of Melanie Klein and Donald W. Winnicott, two giants and geniuses of the British school of object relations clinical and developmental theory and psychoanalytic technique. In this book, The author attempts to integrate the theories of Klein and Winnicott, rather than polarising them, as has been done often in the past. This book takes the best of Klein and Winnicott for use by clinicians on an everyday basis, without having the disputes between their followers interfere with the full and rich platter of theoretical offerings they each of them provided.In addition, this book looks at the biographies of Klein and Winnicott, to show how their theories were inspired by their contrasting lives and contrasting parenting and developmental dynamics. By examining their theories in relation to their biographies, one can see why their dialectical theoretical focuses emerged, highly contrasted in their major emphasis, and yet highly complementary when applied together to clinical work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780491240
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/17/2014
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Susan Kavaler-Adler

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

About the Author ix

Foreword xi

Introduction: A developmental theory of psychological health based on the Klein-Winnicott dialectic and related object relations thinking xiii

Chapter 1 Melanie Klein, like Moses on the way to the Promised Land; a case of pathological mourning 1

Chapter 2 Melanie Klein's creative writing revealing themes in her life and theorizing 27

Chapter 3 The phenomenological theory stands on its own: death instinct as demon lover 43

Chapter 4 Explicating and utilising the phenomenological theory 71

Chapter 5 Developmental evolution within the theory of Melanie Klein 97

Chapter 6 Developmental evolution within the works of Donald W. Winnicott: psychic and transitional space 115

Chapter 7 Dynamics of transitional space: pathological foreclosure vs. expansion in clinical treatment 149

Chapter 8 Winnicott's contribution to the understanding of mirroring as a developmental process: the Klein-Winnicott dialectic within 181

Chapter 9 Narcissistic mirroring as perversion of developmental mourning 209

Chapter 10 Loneliness in dialectic with solitude 223

Conclusion 261

References 265

Index 275

Editorial Reviews

"I found the book to be quite an elegant testimony of Dr Kavaler-Adler’s unique capacity to elucidate and integrate the tremendous and complex contributions of not only these two pillars of the object relations theories but also of other object relations theoreticians and beyond. It is a must read for anyone interested in reaching a more profound understanding of these giants and the way their unique and apparently different theoretical emphases can be integrated into a cohesive whole. It is written with the clarity of a master who is able to elucidate complex and far-reaching concepts in ways that even those familiar with these theories can appreciate and admire."

Rafael Art Javier

"In this extraordinary tour de force of the contemporary object relational integrative thought, Dr Kavaler-Adler builds bridges where others see divides. She offers in-depth exploration of major theoretical concepts of both Klein and Winnicott, seen here in their reciprocally enriching dialectic interaction. In the book, the dialectically interactive concepts become further elegantly integrated. The interactive reciprocity of such concepts as mourning, object survival, potential and transitional space, and others is comprehensibly exemplified by rich clinical material. The book presents a major theoretical and clinical contribution to the psychodynamic and psychoanalytic thought and clinical practice, as it not only extends the present day object relational conceptual base and its clinical applicability, it also provides a dynamic integration template with the widest clinical and theoretical relevance."

Eva D. Papiasvili

"In this extraordinary tour de force of the contemporary object relational integrative thought, Dr Kavaler-Adler builds bridges where others see divides. She offers in-depth exploration of major theoretical concepts of both Klein and Winnicott, seen here in their reciprocally enriching dialectic interaction. In the book, the dialectically interactive concepts become further elegantly integrated. The interactive reciprocity of such concepts as mourning, object survival, potential and transitional space, and others is comprehensibly exemplified by rich clinical material. The book presents a major theoretical and clinical contribution to the psychodynamic and psychoanalytic thought and clinical practice, as it not only extends the present day object relational conceptual base and its clinical applicability, it also provides a dynamic integration template with the widest clinical and theoretical relevance."

"I found the book to be quite an elegant testimony of Dr Kavaler-Adler’s unique capacity to elucidate and integrate the tremendous and complex contributions of not only these two pillars of the object relations theories but also of other object relations theoreticians and beyond. It is a must read for anyone interested in reaching a more profound understanding of these giants and the way their unique and apparently different theoretical emphases can be integrated into a cohesive whole. It is written with the clarity of a master who is able to elucidate complex and far-reaching concepts in ways that even those familiar with these theories can appreciate and admire."

From the Publisher