The Story of Infant Development (Psychology, Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy)

In this book the author presents some of the observation work that she had the privilege of presenting to Martha Harris for supervision between 1970 and 1984. These cases include infant observation, young child observation and play observation of three children who, for various psychopathological problems, were in hospital at the Institute of Child Neuropsychiatry at the University of Milan. Martha Harris’s supervisions were recorded, and in almost all instances preserved, and the tapes have been transcribed here. The case of Simone, which constitutes a major part of the book, particularly delighted her, since it afforded in great detail a record of an infant’s normal development, highlighting the passions, struggles, and vicissitudes inherent in ordinary life, so providing a role model against which psychopathological impediments may be measured and more clearly seen.

"What a pleasure it is to have this record of a sustained encounter with the inspirational teaching of Martha Harris, to whom a whole generation of child psychotherapists feel they owe their fundamental psychoanalytic education and approach to child development and family relationships. The book reminds us of her fresh and lively imagination, disciplined attention to the observational detail, and unrivalled capacity to contain and encourage her students. The children she discusses become complex and memorable individuals through her illuminating commentary. Indeed, her work offers a model of the integration of theory, clinical imagination and life wisdom, and allows the reader to share in the creation of meaning through dialogue." -- Margaret Rustin, Head of Child Psychotherapy, Tavistock Clinic