ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book explores how the absolutely dependent baby steps through autoeroticism towards object relating. It looked at the second stage of dependence, the prototype transitional space. The nature of transitional phenomena and space was discussed. the parallel between analysis and infancy still holds in the third stage. Going towards independence, the original transitional space, once internalised, is enriched and expanded in adolescence and adulthood, giving a sense of personal continuity, and taking account of the person’s widening interests. The book provided details of a baby observation and the experience of engaging in a baby observation, and a summarising and reflective report on this baby observation. Winnicott has been criticised for his idiosyncratic and inconsistent use of language, including psychoanalytic terms.
