ABSTRACT

Thinking About Children collects thirty-one papers, of which twenty-eight have never previously been published. As might be expected, they range widely in tone and content from concise clinical observations to more general meditations including the landmark paper "Towards an objective study of human nature". Of particular interest are sections on autism and psychosomatics, where the author's thinking can be seen to foreshadow more recent developments, such as Frances Tustin's work on autism. Together with a substantial introduction by the editors, this book indispensable for those acquainted with the author's work, and an ideal introduction for those who have not yet encountered the extraordinary clarity and depth of his thought.

part One|18 pages

Observation, Intuition, and Empathy

chapter 1|10 pages

Towards an objective study of human nature

[1945]

chapter 2|6 pages

“Yes, but how do we know it’s true?”

[1950]

part Two|18 pages

Early Infant Development

part Three|20 pages

The Family

chapter 6|4 pages

Sleep refusal in children

[1968]

chapter 7|2 pages

The effect of loss on the young

[1968]

chapter 8|3 pages

Out of the mouths of adolescents

[1966]

chapter 9|3 pages

The delinquent and habitual offender

[early 1940s]

chapter 10|3 pages

A clinical approach to family problems: the family

[1959]

part Four|37 pages

Starting School

chapter 11|18 pages

Mental hygiene of the pre-school child

[1936]

chapter 12|17 pages

The teacher, the parent, and the doctor

[1936]

part Five|15 pages

Case Studies and Observations

chapter 14|2 pages

Notes on a little boy

[1938]

chapter 15|6 pages

The niffle

[undated]

part Six|38 pages

Adoption

chapter 16|15 pages

Two adopted children

[1953]

chapter 17|8 pages

Pitfalls in adoption

[1954]

chapter 18|13 pages

Adopted children in adolescence

[1955]

part Seven|40 pages

Psychosomatic Problems

chapter 19|6 pages

Contribution to a discussion on enuresis

[1936]

chapter 20|13 pages

Papular urticaria and the dynamics of skin sensation

[1934]

chapter 21|6 pages

Short communication on enuresis

[1930]

chapter 23|10 pages

On cardiac neurosis in children

[1966]

part Eight|35 pages

Autism and Schizophrenia

chapter 24|6 pages

Three reviews of books on autism

[1938, 1963, 1966]

chapter 25|21 pages

Autism

[1966]

part Nine|57 pages

Professional Care of the Growing Child