ABSTRACT
Chapter 15, “A baby’s mind: empirical observation versus speculative theorizing”, proceeds from Melanie Klein’s infant observations of her grandson, as recently discovered in a London archive by Dr Joseph Aguayo. The chapter has two purposes. One is to discuss the content of her observations and the fact that her interpretations were influenced by several biases in this close-knit circle of colleagues, patients, supervisees, and family members. The other purpose is to discuss their value for confirming Klein’s theories about the infant mind. The author agrees that her interpretations of the ideational content behind the boy’s play are speculative. But, he also agrees with how she understands the boy’s affects, such as his rage, jealousy, separation fears, and love. He argues that no method, be it infant observation or lab research, reconstructions from older patients, or parent–infant therapy, can yield a full and veracious picture of what goes on in the infant’s mind. Rather, a combinatory approach is needed.
