Developments In Infant Observation

Infant observation carried out within the family is a compelling approach to the study of early human development, vividly revealing the impact of intergenerational patterns of child-rearing and the complex relationship between nature and nurture. It provides unique insights into the early origins of emotional disturbance and suggests ways in which healthy development can be promoted by both professional and parent, often resulting in changes to clinical practice. Developments in Infant Observation: The Tavistock Model is a collection of twelve key papers from international contributors. It offers an overview of current practice, explores the new concepts that have arisen from direct observation, and shows how the findings from observation are being applied in the research setting. An essential text for child psychotherapists in training and practice, this is a book that brings alive the academic theories of child development through thought-provoking and stimulating case-studies which will be of interest to any professional working with children.

Seminal and representative papers have been chosen to illustrate the vital importance of infant observation in psychoanalytic training, tracing influences on the practice of infant observation and contemporary developments. The book outlines the thinking that has evolved since Esther Bick's introduction of this innovative component in Tavistock child psychotherapy and British Psychoanalytical Society training.

Observing young children at play is an everyday and often fascinating and pleasurable experience for many of us. It also has a great pedigree in the development of psychoanalysis from Freud's observation of his grandson's game with the cotton-reel onwards. This book describes the practice of observing young children in home and nursery settings in a systematic and non-intrusive way in order to expand our understanding of their emotional, cognitive, and social development. It uses a psychoanalytic lens to enrich the meaning of what is seen. How do minds and personalities take shape? How can we train people to see what is most relevant in helping children to develop? The chapters range from classic papers by famous practitioners of an older generation to observations completed in recent years in the UK, Europe, and the US. Observation of this sort has also spread to Latin America, India, Australia, Africa, and the Far East. The differences and continuities with Infant Observation are the starting point.

Infant observation carried out within the family is a compelling approach to the study of early human development, vividly revealing the impact of intergenerational patterns of child-rearing and the complex relationship between nature and nurture. It provides unique insights into the early origins of emotional disturbance and suggests ways in which healthy development can be promoted by both professional and parent, often resulting in changes to clinical practice. Developments in Infant Observation: The Tavistock Model is a collection of twelve key papers from international contributors. It offers an overview of current practice, explores the new concepts that have arisen from direct observation, and shows how the findings from observation are being applied in the research setting. An essential text for child psychotherapists in training and practice, this is a book that brings alive the academic theories of child development through thought-provoking and stimulating case-studies which will be of interest to any professional working with children.

This book explores how infant observation can be used as a research methodology and discusses the strengths and limitations from a methodological and philosophical point of view.

Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.

Psychoanalytic infant observation is frequently used in training psychoanalytic psychotherapists and allied professionals, but increasingly its value as a research method is being recognised, particularly in understanding developmental processes in vulnerable individuals and groups. This book explores the scope of this approach and discusses its strengths and limitations from a methodological and philosophical point of view. Infant Observation and Research uses detailed case studies to demonstrate the research potential of the infant observation method. Divided into three sections this book covers infant observation as part of the learning process how infant observation can inform understanding and influence practice psychoanalytic infant observation and other methodologies. Throughout the book, Cathy Urwin, Janine Sternberg and their contributors introduce the reader to the nature and value of psychoanalytic infant observation and its range of application. This book will therefore interest a range of mental health practitioners concerned with early development and infants' emotional relationships, as well as academics and researchers in the social sciences and humanities.

This is one of a new two volume edition of Collected Papers of Martha Harris and Esther Bick, which includes some papers not published in the first edition. The companion volume, Adolescence, by Martha Harris and Donald Meltzer, contains those papers by Martha Harris specifically related to adolescence.