Melanie Klein
Melanie Klein
Psychology 310
June 10, 2013
Melanie Klein
Throughout history it was common thought that women were inferior to men in nearly all aspects (e.g. strength, speed, mental capacity) but especially intelligence. Even when psychology began to take root as a separate discipline, Sir Francis Galton made claims in the mid 1800’s that women were always condemned to be inferior to men based on their inadequate senses. (Goodwin. 2008) This of course was a predisposed notion of the times, because shortly after in the late 19th century women with incredible minds began sprouting up all over with new theories that would forever alter sciences (but especially psychology) today. Of these women several noteworthy names arose such as Anna Freud (ego’s defense mechanisms), Mary Ainsworth (“strange situation” assessment), and Mary Whiton Calkins (First woman APA pres.). One of the undeservedly lesser known names though, is that of Melanie Klein.
Melanie Klein was born in early 1882 to a Jewish physician by the name of Moriz Reisez. Klein’s Family consisted of two sisters, a brother, and her mother (Libusa). During early childhood in her hometown of Vienna, Austria, Klein learned what she could (e.g. Latin, reading & writing) from her older siblings in order to get into school later in life. Eventually after succeeding in primary schools, Klein would enroll at Vienna University, and despite having hoped to enter into the medical field it would not be possible due to family issues and her love life with Arthur Klein. After marrying Arthur, Melanie fell into a slight depression which aided her decision to moth with her children and Arthur to Budapest, where her new life with psychology would begin. (Donaldson. 2002)
After moving to Budapest, Klein soon met Sandor Ferenczi, a man who would teach her the beginnings of knowledge in psychoanalysis. Ferenczi was also the one who urged Klein to attend the International Psycho-Analytic Congress that was to be held
Psychology 310
June 10, 2013
Melanie Klein
Throughout history it was common thought that women were inferior to men in nearly all aspects (e.g. strength, speed, mental capacity) but especially intelligence. Even when psychology began to take root as a separate discipline, Sir Francis Galton made claims in the mid 1800’s that women were always condemned to be inferior to men based on their inadequate senses. (Goodwin. 2008) This of course was a predisposed notion of the times, because shortly after in the late 19th century women with incredible minds began sprouting up all over with new theories that would forever alter sciences (but especially psychology) today. Of these women several noteworthy names arose such as Anna Freud (ego’s defense mechanisms), Mary Ainsworth (“strange situation” assessment), and Mary Whiton Calkins (First woman APA pres.). One of the undeservedly lesser known names though, is that of Melanie Klein.
Melanie Klein was born in early 1882 to a Jewish physician by the name of Moriz Reisez. Klein’s Family consisted of two sisters, a brother, and her mother (Libusa). During early childhood in her hometown of Vienna, Austria, Klein learned what she could (e.g. Latin, reading & writing) from her older siblings in order to get into school later in life. Eventually after succeeding in primary schools, Klein would enroll at Vienna University, and despite having hoped to enter into the medical field it would not be possible due to family issues and her love life with Arthur Klein. After marrying Arthur, Melanie fell into a slight depression which aided her decision to moth with her children and Arthur to Budapest, where her new life with psychology would begin. (Donaldson. 2002)
After moving to Budapest, Klein soon met Sandor Ferenczi, a man who would teach her the beginnings of knowledge in psychoanalysis. Ferenczi was also the one who urged Klein to attend the International Psycho-Analytic Congress that was to be held
References: Donaldson, G. (2002, June). Melanie Klein (1882-1960). Biography of Melanie Klein, Retrieved from http://www.apadivisions.org/division-35/about/heritage/melanie-klein-biography.aspx Feist, J & Feist, G.J. (2008). Theories of personality, (7th ed). [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from http://www.vitalsource.com/. Goodwin, C. J. (2008). A history of modern psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Melanie Klein. (n.d.). Melanie Klein, Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/disciplines/psychoanalysis/theorists/klein.htm Mohamed, S. (2011, October 26). Sigmund Freud. Zimbio. Retrieved from http://www.zimbio.com/Sigmund Freud/articles/e3g0U0wLNVr/Melanie Klein Object Relations