Zur Psychologie und Psychopathologie des Säuglings – neue Ergebnisse in der psychoanalytischen Reflexion

Zur Psychologie und Psychopathologie des Säuglings – neue Ergebnisse in der psychoanalytischen Reflexion
Researchers of various orientations have made new and fascinating discoveries in the field of early childhood, first made accessible by Freud and psychoanalysis. These discoveries widen our knowledge about man's psychic development and question positions thusfar adopted. Basic to our new understanding is the discovery of the 'active' infant. Contrary to the old concept of the infant as a passive being, whose activities after birth are merely of a reflexive nature, more recent research describes an infant who from birth onwards is capable of primitive perception, simple thinking processes and of a rudimentary form of intentionality. Thereby the infant succeeds in pursuing an intention and in gaining a degree of independence. Right from the start she/he interacts actively with the world around her/him in order to explore and influence it.