Tradition, Change, Creativity

Ricardo Steiner is a member of the British Psycho-Analytical Society, and the current Honorary Archivist. Amongst other distinguished contributions to psychoanalysis, he edited, together with Pearl King, 'The Freud-Klein Controversies'. His other books, ''It's a New Kind of Diaspora':Explorations in the Sociopolitical and Cultural Context of Psychoanalysis', 'Tradition, Change, Creativity: Repercussions of the New Diaspora on Aspects of British Psychoanalysis', 'Unconscious Phantasy' and 'Within Time and Beyond Time: A Festschrift for Pearl King' are also published by Karnac Books.

The first part of the book, "Tradition and Change" traces some general issues related to the Discussions, in particular drawing on documentary sources from the Archives of the British Psycho-Analytical Society. The second part focuses on one crucial issue in the Discussions - the differing interpretations formulated about the psychic life of babies during the first six months of life. Throughout this section, and the rest of the book, Dr Steiner constantly stresses the larger social and political contexts within which psychoanalysis exists. The last part examines the legacy of the Discussion in the work of one of the most distinguished Kleinian analysts, Hanna Segal, and in particular her work on creativity and aesthetics.

• Preface -- Tradition and change -- The Freud–Klein Controversial Discussions (1941–1945) -- Issues emerging from the Freud–Klein Controversies: Vienna/London -- Introduction -- Clinical, theoretical, and epistemological themes -- The Viennese psychoanalytic baby -- Sigmund Freud: a child of his own age -- The complex psychoanalytic parenthood of Melanie Klein's "London" baby -- An ideal nursery and a commitment of empathic relatives -- The emergence of the indigenous (British) psychoanalytic baby -- Conclusion -- Cultural context and applied psychoanalysis -- Hanna Segal's approach to creativity and aesthetics