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'''Donald Meltzer''' ([[1922]]-[[2004]]) was a [[Melanie Klein|Kleinian]] [[psychoanalyst]] whose widespread teaching made him influential in many countries. He became known for making clinical headway with difficult childhood conditions such as [[autism]], and also for his theoretical innovations and developments.<ref> See "Donald Meltzer" in French Wikipedia.</ref> His focus on the role of emotionality and [[aesthetics]] in promoting [[mental health]] has led to his being considered a key figure in the "post-Kleinian" movement associated with the psychoanalytic [[Thoughts Without a Thinker | theory of thinking]] created by [[Wilfred Bion]].<ref>S. Fano Cassese (2002) ''Introduction to the work of Donald Meltzer'' (London: Karnac), xviii.</ref>
'''Donald Meltzer''' (1922–2004) was a [[Melanie Klein|Kleinian]] [[psychoanalyst]] whose teaching made him influential in many countries. He became known for making clinical headway with difficult childhood conditions such as [[autism]], and also for his theoretical innovations and developments.<ref>[[Roger Money-Kyrle]], "Review of Explorations in Autism", ''International Journal of Psycho-Analysis'' Vol. 57, reprinted in ''Collected Papers of Roger Money-Kyrle'' (Clunie Press, 1978), 450–56.</ref> His focus on the role of emotionality and [[aesthetics]] in promoting [[mental health]] has led to his being considered a key figure in the "post-Kleinian" movement associated with the psychoanalytic [[The thought without language|theory of thinking]] created by [[Wilfred Bion]].<ref>S. Fano Cassese (2002) ''Introduction to the work of Donald Meltzer'' (London: Karnac), xviii' R. DesGroseillers, [http://pages.globetrotter.net/desgros/auteurs/br/meltzer.html Portraits of the British Psychoanalysts] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609150342/http://pages.globetrotter.net/desgros/auteurs/br/meltzer.html |date=June 9, 2007 }}. For an online account of Meltzer's place in the context of Kleinian thinking, see N. Glover, [http://human-nature.com/free-associations/glover Psychoanalytic aesthetics: the British school] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609103651/http://human-nature.com/free-associations/glover |date=June 9, 2007 }}</ref>


==Life and Work==
==Life and work==
⚫
Meltzer was born in [[New York City|New York]] City and studied medicine at [[Yale University]]. He practised in St. Louis as a [[psychiatrist]], before moving to [[England]] in 1954 to have analysis with [[Melanie Klein]].<ref>For an introduction to Melanie Klein see H. Segal, ''An introduction to the work of Melanie Klein'' (Karnac, 1973)</ref> He joined the "Kleinian group", became a teaching analyst of the [[British Psychoanalytical Society]] (BPS) and took on [[British citizenship]]. In the early 1980s disagreements about the mode of training led him to withdraw from the BPS.<ref name=":0">Meltzer, “A review of my writings”, in Cohen and Hahn (ed.) ''Exploring the work of Donald Meltzer'' (Karnac, 2000) 3</ref> Meltzer worked with both adults and children. Initially his work with children was supervised by [[Esther Bick]], who was creating a new and influential mode of psychoanalytic training at the [[Tavistock Clinic]] based on mother-child observation and following the theories of Melanie Klein.<ref>M. Rustin, “Dr Meltzer’s contribution to child psychotherapy”, ''The Bulletin of the Association of Child Psychotherapists'' 149, Nov 2004, 9–11; M. Harris, "The Tavistock training and philosophy", ''Collected Papers of Martha Harris and Esther Bick'' (Clunie Press, 1987); A. Sowa, “Observing the unobservable: the Tavistock Infant Observation Course and its relevance to clinical training”, ''Fort Da'', spring 1999 Vol. 1(1).</ref> As a result of the regular travels and teaching of Meltzer and [[Martha Harris]], his third wife, who was head of the Child Psychotherapy Training Course at the Tavistock Clinic, this model of psychoanalytic psychotherapy training became established in the principal [[Italy|Italian cities]], in [[France]] and [[Argentina]].<ref>R. Li Causi and M. Waddell, "An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer" ''Journal of Child Psychotherapy'' Vol. 31(1) 3–5; I. Freeden, obituary, ''Journal of the British Association of Psychotherapists'' Vol. 43 (19) 88</ref>


⚫
Meltzer taught for many years at the Tavistock Clinic, and practised privately in [[Oxford]] until his death. Owing to having left the BPS, his ideas remained controversial. He supervised psychoanalytically-oriented professionals in atelier-style groups throughout Europe, Scandinavia and South America, and his visits also included New York and California.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} Since his death in 2004 his reputation has increasingly regained ground also in his adoptive country. Several international congresses have focussed on his work: in London (1998), Florence (2000), Buenos Aires (2005), Savona (2005), Barcelona (2005) and Stavanger, Norway (2007).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.psa-atelier.org/ |title=See also A. Hahn, "Dr Meltzer's Biography" |access-date=2007-06-01 |archive-date=2009-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227151057/http://www.psa-atelier.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
⚫
Meltzer was born in New York City and studied medicine at [[Yale University]]. He practised in St. Louis as a [[psychiatrist]], before moving to England in [[1954]] to have analysis with [[Melanie Klein]]. He joined the Kleinian group, became a teaching analyst of the British Society and took on British [[citizenship]]. In the early [[1980s]] disagreements about the mode of training led him to withdraw from the Society.<ref> Meltzer, “A review of my writings”, in Cohen and Hahn (ed.) ''Exploring the work of Donald Meltzer'' (Karnac, 2000) 8; A. Hahn, obituary in ''International Journal of Psycho-analysis'' Vol. 86 (1) 175-78; [http://www.psychoanalysis.org.uk/obit.htm another obituary]</ref> Meltzer worked with both adults and [[Child psychology|children]]. Initially his work with children was supervised by Esther Bick, who was creating a new and influential mode of psychoanalytical training at the [[Tavistock Institute]] based on mother-child observation and following the theories of Melanie Klein. <ref>M. Rustin, “Dr Meltzer’s contribution to child psychotherapy”, ''The Bulletin of the Association of Child Psychotherapists'' 149, Nov 2004, 9-11; M. Harris, "The Tavistock training and philosophy", ''Collected Papers of Martha Harris and Esther Bick'' (Clunie Press, 1987); A. Sowa, “Observing the unobservable: the Tavistock Infant Observation Course and its relevance to clinical training”, ''Fort Da'', spring 1999 Vol. 1(1). See also [http://www.answers.com/topic/bick-esther "Esther Bick"</ref> As a result of the regular travels and teaching of Meltzer and Martha Harris (his third wife), who was head of the Child Psychotherapy Training Course at the Tavistock, this model of psychoanalytic psychotherapy training became established in all the principal Italian cities, and in France and Argentina. <ref>R. Li Causi and M. Waddell, "An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer" ''Journal of Child Psychotherapy" Vol. 31(1) 3-5; I. Freeden, obituary, ''Journal of the British Association of Psychotherapists'' Vol. 43 (19) 88</ref>

⚫
Meltzer taught for many years at the Tavistock, and practised privately in Oxford (UK) until his death. Owing to having left the [[British Psychoanalytical Society]], his ideas were controversial. He supervised psychoanalytically oriented professionals in atelier-style groups throughout Europe, Scandinavia and South America, and his visits also included New York and California.<ref>See below, '''Meltzer as Teacher''', '''External links''', and French Wikipedia entry on '''Donald Meltzer'''</ref> Since his death in 2004 his reputation has increasingly regained ground also in his adoptive country. Several international congresses have focussed on his work: in London (1998), Florence (2000), Buenos Aires (2005), Savona (2005), Barcelona(2005) and Stavanger, Norway (2007).<ref>See also A. Hahn, "Dr Meltzer's Biography".[http://www.psa-atelier.org]</ref>
===''Imago Group''===
Meltzer was a member of the Kleinian Imago Group founded by the Kleinian [[aesthete]] [[Adrian Stokes (critic)|Adrian Stokes]] for discussing applied psychoanalysis. The group included among others [[Richard Wollheim]], Wilfred Bion, Roger Money-Kyrle, Marion Milner and [[Ernst Gombrich]].[http://www.psa-atelier.org/index.php?ul=abc89aac75c4c81dc70221e0b3ea96a0] With Stokes he wrote a dialogue “Concerning the social basis of art”.<ref> In A. Stokes, ''Painting and the Inner World'' (1963), reprinted in Meltzer and Harris Williams, ''The Apprehension of Beauty'' (Clunie Press, 1988) 206-7</ref> Meltzer's aesthetic interests, combined with the mother-baby model of early learning processes,<ref>J. Begoin, “Love and destructiveness: from the aesthetic conflict to a revision of the concept of destructiveness in the psyche”, ''Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer'', ed. Cohen and Hahn (Karnac, 2000) 119-35; G. Williams, "Reflections on aesthetic reciprocity", ibid., 136-51</ref>led to seeing psychoanalysis itself as an art form. His later works describe the relationship between analyst and analysand as an aesthetic process of symbol-making. This has had an influence on the philosophical view of the relation between art and psychoanalysis.<ref>S. Gosso, ''Psychoanalysis and art: Kleinian perspectives'' (Karnac, 2004): N. Glover, ''Psychoanalytic aesthetics: the British School" [http://human-nature.com/free-associations/glover]</ref>
Meltzer was a member of the Kleinian Imago Group founded by the Kleinian [[aesthete]] [[Adrian Stokes (critic)|Adrian Stokes]] for discussing applied psychoanalysis. The group included among others [[Richard Wollheim]], [[Wilfred Bion]], [[Roger Money-Kyrle]], [[Marion Milner]] and [[Ernst Gombrich]].<ref>http://www.psa-atelier.org/index.php?ul=abc89aac75c4c81dc70221e0b3ea96a0</ref> With Stokes he wrote a dialogue “Concerning the social basis of art”.<ref>In A. Stokes, ''Painting and the Inner World'' (1963), reprinted in Meltzer and Harris Williams, ''The Apprehension of Beauty'' (Clunie Press, 1988) 206–7</ref> Meltzer's aesthetic interests, combined with the mother-baby model of early learning processes, led to seeing psychoanalysis itself as an art form.<ref>J. Begoin, “Love and destructiveness: from the aesthetic conflict to a revision of the concept of destructiveness in the psyche”, ''Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer'', ed. Cohen and Hahn (Karnac, 2000) 119–35; G. Williams, "Reflections on aesthetic reciprocity", ibid., 136–51</ref> His later works describe the relationship between analyst and analysand as an aesthetic process of symbol-making. This has had an influence on the philosophical view of the relation between art and psychoanalysis.<ref>S. Gosso, ''Psychoanalysis and art: Kleinian perspectives'' (Karnac, 2004): N. Glover, ''Psychoanalytic aesthetics: the British School'' {{cite web|url=http://human-nature.com/free-associations/glover |title=Introduction - Psychoanalytic Aesthetics: The British School by Nicola Glover |accessdate=2007-06-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609103651/http://human-nature.com/free-associations/glover/ |archivedate=2007-06-09 }}</ref>

⚫
===Ideas===


⚫
===Overview===
Some of Meltzer's significant and widely used developments of Kleinian [[object relations theory]] are as follows:
Some of Meltzer's significant and widely used developments of Kleinian [[object relations theory]] are as follows:


*the '''aesthetic conflict''' - the foundation for normal development, based on the internal mother-baby relationship, was formulated in Meltzer and Harris Williams (1988) ''The Apprehension of Beauty'';
*The ''aesthetic conflict'', the foundation for normal development, based on the internal mother-baby relationship, was formulated in Meltzer and Harris Williams (1988) ''The Apprehension of Beauty''
* '''intrusive identification''', a form of [[projective identification]] associated with life in the Claustrum (narcissistic pathology), first formulated in early seminal papers “The relation of anal masturbation to projective identification” and “The delusion of clarity of insight”, and expanded in ''The Claustrum'' (1992);
* ''Intrusive identification'', a form of [[projective identification]] associated with life in the ''Claustrum'' (narcissistic pathology), first formulated in early seminal papers “The relation of anal masturbation to projective identification” and “The delusion of clarity of insight”, and expanded in ''The Claustrum'' (1992)
*'''pseudo-maturity''', a common clinical manifestation of arrested development;
*''Pseudo-maturity'', a common clinical manifestation of arrested development
* '''adhesive identification''' and '''dismantling''' in two-dimensional autistic states, formulated in a work documenting Meltzer's experience with 5 colleagues in treating autistic children, ''Explorations in Autism'' (1975);
* ''Adhesive identification'' and ''dismantling'' in two-dimensional autistic states, formulated in a work documenting Meltzer's experience with 5 colleagues in treating autistic children, ''Explorations in Autism'' (1975)
* the '''preformed transference''', first described in ''The Psychoanalytical Process'' (1967), referring to the patient's initial preconceptions about a psychoanalytic relationship which have to be overcome before a genuine transference and [[countertransference]] can be established;
* The ''preformed transference'', first described in ''The Psychoanalytical Process'' (1967), referring to the patient's initial preconceptions about a psychoanalytic relationship which have to be overcome before a genuine transference and [[countertransference]] can be established
*a reappraisal of Melanie Klein’s discovery of the '''combined internal object''', which stresses its beneficial nature as a basis for mental development, begun in ''Richard Week-by-Week'', Part II of ''The Kleinian Development'' (1978).
*A reappraisal of Melanie Klein's discovery of the ''combined internal object'', which stresses its beneficial nature as a basis for mental development, begun in ''Richard Week-by-Week'', Part II of ''The Kleinian Development'' (1978).


=== The claustrum ===
For applications and comments on these theories see below, '''Further reading''', '''Meltzer as teacher''' and '''External links''' . For expanded glossaries see [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/meghwilliams/hmt/SomeMeltzerianConcepts.htm Some Meltzerian Concepts] and [http://www.webmeltzer.com.ar/glosario.html Glossary of Terms (in Spanish)]
In his final work, ''The Claustrum: An Investigation of claustrophobic phenomena'' (1988), Donald Meltzer developed a theory of claustrophobia. Meltzer offers a Kleinian/Bionian appreciation of the phenomenon of claustrophobia, arguing that the claustrum emerges as a failure of integration in early childhood development. If there occurs massive projective identification, that the child cannot sustain, its understanding both of its own corporeality, and that of others is severely impacted. It is a result of maternal failure in the reverie and leads to an incorrect construction of the internal mother. Claustrophobia in that sense "means to be imprisoned in a state of mind without getting out", it has do with being trapped in the projective identification of others <ref name=":0" />


Donald Meltzer was a prolific writer and his books and many papers are translated into French, Italian, Spanish, German and some into Portuguese and Japanese.

==Main publications by Meltzer ==


==Bibliography==
*''The Psychoanalytical Process'' (Heinemann 1967), reprinted Perthshire: Clunie Press, 1970
*''The Psychoanalytical Process'' (Heinemann 1967), reprinted Perthshire: Clunie Press, 1970
*''Sexual States of Mind'' (1973) Perthshire: Clunie Press
*''Sexual States of Mind'' (1973) Perthshire: Clunie Press
Line 33: Line 30:
*''The Kleinian Development'': Book I (Freud), Book II (Klein), Book III (Bion). Single-volume edition Perthshire: Clunie Press, 1978
*''The Kleinian Development'': Book I (Freud), Book II (Klein), Book III (Bion). Single-volume edition Perthshire: Clunie Press, 1978
*''Dream Life: a re-examination of the psycho-analytical theory and technique'' (1983) Perthshire: Clunie Press
*''Dream Life: a re-examination of the psycho-analytical theory and technique'' (1983) Perthshire: Clunie Press
*''Studies in Extended Metapsychology: clinical applications of Bion’s ideas'' (1986) Perthshire: Clunie Press
*''Studies in Extended Metapsychology: clinical applications of Bion’s ideas'' (1986) Perthshire: Clunie Press
*with Meg Harris Williams: ''The Apprehension of Beauty: the role of aesthetic conflict in development, art and violence'' (1988) Perthshire: Clunie Press
*with Meg Harris Williams: ''The Apprehension of Beauty: the role of aesthetic conflict in development, art and violence'' (1988) Perthshire: Clunie Press
*''The Claustrum: an investigation of claustrophobic phenomena'' (1992) Perthshire: Clunie Press
*''The Claustrum: an investigation of claustrophobic phenomena'' (1992) Perthshire: Clunie Press
⚫
*''Sincerity and Other Works: Collected Papers'' (1994) ed. A. Hahn. London: Karnac
For books by Meltzer translated into languages other than English, see the publishing lists of: Armando (Rome, Italy); Bollati Boringhieri (Turin, Italy); Borla (Rome, Italy), Cortina (Milan, Italy); Dunod (Paris, France); Hublot (Brittany, France); Diskord (Tübingen, Germany); Klett-Cotta (Stuttgart, Germany); Spatia (Buenos Aires, Argentina); Paradiso editores (Ciudad de México, México); Grafein (Barcelona, Spain); Kongo Shuppan (Tokyo, Japan).


===See also===
==As a teacher==
⚫
Meltzer was well known internationally as a teacher and supervisor.<ref>[[R. D. Hinshelwood]] (1989) "Donald Meltzer", ''A Dictionary of Kleinian Thought''. London: [[Free Association Books]]. Revised edition 1991</ref> He favoured an atelier-style system for the teaching and selection of candidates for psychoanalytical training, adumbrated in his paper, “Towards an atelier system”.<ref>Meltzer, “Towards an atelier system”, in

''Sincerity: Collected Papers of Donald Meltzer'' ed. Hahn (Karnac, 1994), 285–89</ref>
*For a fuller list of Meltzer’s works see: [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/meghwilliams/hmt/DMbooksandpapers.htm Donald Meltzer - Books and Papers]
⚫
*Many of Meltzer’s papers may be found in ''Sincerity and Other Works: Collected Papers'' (1994) ed. A. Hahn. London: Karnac.

==Meltzer as a Teacher==

⚫
Meltzer was well known internationally as a teacher and supervisor.<ref> R. D. Hinshelwood (1989) "Donald Meltzer", ''A Dictionary of Kleinian Thought''. London: Free Association Books. Revised edition 1991</ref> He favoured an atelier-style system for the teaching and selection of candidates for psychoanalytical training, adumbrated in his paper “Towards an atelier system”.<ref>Meltzer, “Towards an atelier system”, in ''Sincerity: Collected Papers of Donald Meltzer'' ed. Hahn (Karnac, 1994), 285-89</ref> His method was to ask supervisees to present sessions of unedited clinical material, rather than finished papers. Several of his groups and individual supervisees have documented their experiences. See the following:


His method was to ask supervisees to present sessions of unedited clinical material, rather than finished papers. Several of his groups and individual supervisees have documented their experiences:
*Castella, R., Farre, L., Tabbia, C. (2003) ''Supervisions with Donald Meltzer''. London: Karnac.
*Castella, R., Farre, L., Tabbia, C. (2003) ''Supervisions with Donald Meltzer''. London: Karnac.
*Emanuel, R. (2004) “A personal tribute to Donald Meltzer”, ''Bulletin of the Association of Child Psychotherapists'' 149, 11-14
*Emanuel, R. (2004) “A personal tribute to Donald Meltzer”, ''Bulletin of the Association of Child Psychotherapists'' 149, 11–14
*Fisher, J. (2000) “Reading Donald Meltzer: identification and intercourse as modes of reading and relating”, ''Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer'' ed. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac, 188-202
*Fisher, J. (2000) “Reading Donald Meltzer: identification and intercourse as modes of reading and relating”, ''Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer'' ed. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac, 188–202
*Hoxter, S. (2000) “Experiences of learning with Donald Meltzer”, ''Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer''ed. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac,12-26
*Hoxter, S. (2000) “Experiences of learning with Donald Meltzer”, ''Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer''ed. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac,12–26
*Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2000), “A Learning Experience”, ''Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer'' ed. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac, 203-14
*Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2000), “A Learning Experience”, ''Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer'' ed. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac, 203–14
* Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2002) ''Psychoanalytic Work with Children and Adults''. London: Karnac
* Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2002) ''Psychoanalytic Work with Children and Adults''. London: Karnac
*Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2007) ''De un Teller psicoanalitico, a partir de Donald Meltzer''. Barcelona: Grafein (in Spanish)
*Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2007) ''De un Teller psicoanalitico, a partir de Donald Meltzer''. Barcelona: Grafein (in Spanish)
*Oelsner, M. and Oelsner, R. (2005) “About supervision: an interview with Donald Meltzer”, ''British Journal of Psychotherapy'', 21 (3).
*Oelsner, M. and Oelsner, R. (2005) “About supervision: an interview with Donald Meltzer”, ''British Journal of Psychotherapy'', 21 (3).
*Racker Group of Venice (2004) ''Transfert, Adolescenza, Disturbi del Pensiero''. Armando (in Italian)
*Racker Group of Venice (2004) ''Transfert, Adolescenza, Disturbi del Pensiero''. Armando (in Italian)

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==See also==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=22em|
*[[Bizarre object]]
⚫
*[[Dream interpretation]]
⚫
*[[Object relations theory]]
*[[Reparation (psychoanalysis)|Reparation]]
⚫
*[[Sigmund Freud]]
}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


==Further reading==
==Further reading==

*Campart, M. (1996) “Matching modes of teaching with modes of learning: a review of Donald Meltzer’s ideas”, in M. Campart and R. Berg, (eds.) ''Methods of Art as Paths to Knowledge''. Malmo: Lund University.
*Campart, M. (1996) “Matching modes of teaching with modes of learning: a review of Donald Meltzer’s ideas”, in M. Campart and R. Berg, (eds.) ''Methods of Art as Paths to Knowledge''. Malmo: Lund University.
*Cassese, S. F. (2002) ''Introduction to the Work of Donald Meltzer''. London: Karnac
*Cassese, S. F. (2002) ''Introduction to the Work of Donald Meltzer''. London: Karnac
*Cohen, M. and Hahn, A. (eds.) (2000) ''Exploring the work of Donald Meltzer: a festschrift''. London: Karnac
*Cohen, M. and Hahn, A. (eds.) (2000) ''Exploring the work of Donald Meltzer: a festschrift''. London: Karnac
*Fisher, J. (2002) “A father’s abdication: Lear’s retreat from aesthetic conflict”, ''International Journal of Psycho-analysis'' Vol. 81(5) 963-82
*Fisher, J. (2002) “A father’s abdication: Lear’s retreat from aesthetic conflict”, ''International Journal of Psycho-Analysis'' Vol. 81(5) 963–82
*Freeden, I. (2005) “Obituary of Donald Meltzer”, ''Journal of the British Association of Psychotherapists'' Vol. 43 (19) 88-92
*Freeden, I. (2005) “Obituary of Donald Meltzer”, ''Journal of the British Association of Psychotherapists'' Vol. 43 (19) 88–92
*Gosso, S. (2004) ''Psychoanalysis and Art''. London: Karnac
*Gosso, S. (2004) ''Psychoanalysis and Art''. London: Karnac
*Hahn, A. (2005) “Obituary of Donald Meltzer”, ''International Journal of Psycho-analysis'' Vol. 86 (1) 175-178
*Hahn, A. (2005) “Obituary of Donald Meltzer”, ''International Journal of Psycho-Analysis'' Vol. 86 (1) 175–178
*Harris, M. (1975) ''Thinking about Infants and Young Children''. Perthshire: Clunie Press
*Harris, M. (1975) ''Thinking about Infants and Young Children''. Perthshire: Clunie Press
*Harris, M. and Negri, R. (2007) ''The Story of Infant Development''. Karnac and the Harris Meltzer Trust
*Harris, M. and Negri, R. (2007) ''The Story of Infant Development''. Karnac and the Harris Meltzer Trust
*Hindle, D. (2000) “L’enfant et les sortileges revisited in the light of Meltzer’s contribution to psychoanalytic thinking”, ''International Journal of Psycho-analysis'' Vol. 81, 1185
*Hindle, D. (2000) “L’enfant et les sortileges revisited in the light of Meltzer’s contribution to psychoanalytic thinking”, ''International Journal of Psycho-Analysis'' Vol. 81, 1185
*Li Causi, R. and Waddell, M. (2005) “An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer”, ''Journal of Child Psychotherapy'' Vol. 31 (1) 3-5
*Li Causi, R. and Waddell, M. (2005) “An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer”, ''Journal of Child Psychotherapy'' Vol. 31 (1) 3–5
*Maizels, N. (1998) "An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer - as illustrated through the animated film Pinocchio", ''Bulletin Australian Psychoanalytic Psychology'', 2-19
*Maizels, N. (1998) "An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer - as illustrated through the animated film Pinocchio", ''Bulletin Australian Psychoanalytic Psychology'', 2–19.
https://www.academia.edu/14952920/Donald_Meltzer_the_Analyst_meets_Pinocchio_the_Real_Boy_excerpt_from_the_book_Teaching_Meltzer._
*Maizels, N. (1992) "The wrecking and re-pairing of the internal couple", ''Australian Journal of Psychotherapy'' Vol. 24, 12-26
*Maizels, N. (1994) "Inoculative identification in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train", ''Journal of Melanie Klein and Object Relations'' Vol. 9, 17-35
*Maizels, N. (1992) "The wrecking and re-pairing of the internal couple", ''Australian Journal of Psychotherapy'' Vol. 24, 12–26
*Maizels, N. (1995) "Smoking and intrusive identification", ''Bulletin Australian Psychoanalytic Psychology Vol. 10, 32-53
*Maizels, N. (1994) "Inoculative identification in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train", ''Journal of Melanie Klein and Object Relations'' Vol. 9, 17–35
*Maizels, N. (1995) "Smoking and intrusive identification", ''Bulletin Australian Psychoanalytic Psychology'' Vol. 10, 32–53
*Money-Kyrle, R. (1976) “Review of Explorations in Autism”, ''International Journal of Psycho-analysis'' Vol. 57
*Nemas, C. et al, (2005) “Remembering Donald Meltzer”, ''British Journal of Psychotherapy'', 21(3)
*Money-Kyrle, R. (1976) “Review of Explorations in Autism”, ''International Journal of Psycho-Analysis'' Vol. 57
*Nemas, C. et al., (2005) “Remembering Donald Meltzer”, ''British Journal of Psychotherapy'', 21(3)
*Vladescu F.V. (ed) (1998) ''Papers in Honor of Donald Meltzer''. New York: esf
*Vladescu F.V. (ed) (1998) ''Papers in Honor of Donald Meltzer''. New York: esf
*Williams, M. H. (1998) “The aesthetic perspective in the work of Donald Meltzer”, ''Journal of Melanie Klein and Object Relations'' Vol. 16 (2)
*Williams, M. H. (1998) “The aesthetic perspective in the work of Donald Meltzer”, ''Journal of Melanie Klein and Object Relations'' Vol. 16 (2)
*Williams, M.H. (1999) “Psychoanalysis: an art or a science? a review of the implications of the theory of Bion and Meltzer”, ''British Journal of Psychotherapy'' Vol. 16 (2) 127-35;
*Williams, M.H. (1999) “Psychoanalysis: an art or a science? a review of the implications of the theory of Bion and Meltzer”, ''British Journal of Psychotherapy'' Vol. 16 (2) 127–35
*Williams, M. H. (2005a) “The three vertices: science, art and religion” ''British Journal of Psychotherapy'' Vol. 21(3), 429-41
*Williams, M. H. (2005a) “The three vertices: science, art and religion” ''British Journal of Psychotherapy'' Vol. 21(3), 429–41
*Williams, M. H. (2005b)''The Vale of Soulmaking: the postKleinian model of the mind''. London: Karnac
*Williams, M. H. (2005b)''The Vale of Soulmaking: the postKleinian model of the mind''. London: Karnac


==External links==
==External links==

*[http://www.harris-meltzer-trust.org.uk The Harris Meltzer Trust] - includes information about Donald Meltzer and bibliographies of his work and related to his work, and an e-journal ''Meltzer Studies''
*[http://www.harris-meltzer-trust.org.uk The Harris Meltzer Trust] - includes information about Donald Meltzer and bibliographies of his work and related to his work, and an e-journal ''Meltzer Studies''
*[http://www.psa-atelier.org The Meltzer Online Atelier] - includes a biography of Donald Meltzer, list of works and discussion forum
*[http://www.psa-atelier.org The Meltzer Online Atelier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227151057/http://www.psa-atelier.org/ |date=2009-02-27 }} - includes a biography of Donald Meltzer, list of works and discussion forum
*[http://www.gpbarcelona.com Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona-''in Spanish'']
*[http://www.grupporacker.org Racker Group of Venice-''in Italian'']
*[http://www.webmeltzer.com.ar Meltzerian Studies in Argentina-''in Spanish'']
*[http://www.pages.globetrotter.net/desgros/auteurs/br/Meltzer.html Portraits of the British Psychoanalysts-''in French'']
*[http://www.essex.ac.uk/centres/psycho/research/phd_topics/Castro.htm Emotional containment and family dynamics]
*[http://human-nature.com/free-associations/glover Psychoanalytic aesthetics: the British school]
*[http://www.pstokes.demon.co.uk Adrian Stokes website]
*[http://www.artnet.com?Magazine/reviews/kuspit2-18-04.asp Forces of Nature]
*[http://www.swif.uniba.it/lei/rassegna/000218a.htm Donald Meltzer and the aesthetic conflict-''in Italian'']
*[http://www.human-nature.com/rmyoung/papers/paper3h.html Benign and virulent projective identification]
*[http://www.human-nature.com/rmyoung/papers/paper3h.html Benign and virulent projective identification]
* https://www.academia.edu/14952920/Donald_Meltzer_the_Analyst_meets_Pinocchio_the_Real_Boy_excerpt_from_the_book_Teaching_Meltzer._
*[http://www.answers.com/topic/autistic-defenses Autistic defences]
*[http://www.answers.com/topic/technique-with-children-psychoanalytic Psychoanalytic technique with children]


{{Authority control}}
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===See also===

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*[[Object relations theory]]
*[[Projective identification]]
*[[Depressive position]]
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*[[Dream interpretation]]
*[[Wilfred Bion]]
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*[[Melanie Klein]]
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*[[Sigmund Freud]]
*[[Tavistock Institute]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Meltzer, Donald}}
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[[Category:Psychotherapy]]
[[Category:Psychoanalytic theory]]
[[Category:British psychoanalysts]]
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
[[Category:American psychotherapists]]
[[Category:Psychoanalysts]]
[[Category:American psychoanalysts]]
[[Category:Jewish psychoanalysts]]
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[[Category:Analysands of Melanie Klein]]
[[Category:Object relations theorists]]
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[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:American emigrants to the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 16:05, 21 June 2024

Donald Meltzer (1922–2004) was a Kleinian psychoanalyst whose teaching made him influential in many countries. He became known for making clinical headway with difficult childhood conditions such as autism, and also for his theoretical innovations and developments.[1] His focus on the role of emotionality and aesthetics in promoting mental health has led to his being considered a key figure in the "post-Kleinian" movement associated with the psychoanalytic theory of thinking created by Wilfred Bion.[2]

Life and work

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Meltzer was born in New York City and studied medicine at Yale University. He practised in St. Louis as a psychiatrist, before moving to England in 1954 to have analysis with Melanie Klein.[3] He joined the "Kleinian group", became a teaching analyst of the British Psychoanalytical Society (BPS) and took on British citizenship. In the early 1980s disagreements about the mode of training led him to withdraw from the BPS.[4] Meltzer worked with both adults and children. Initially his work with children was supervised by Esther Bick, who was creating a new and influential mode of psychoanalytic training at the Tavistock Clinic based on mother-child observation and following the theories of Melanie Klein.[5] As a result of the regular travels and teaching of Meltzer and Martha Harris, his third wife, who was head of the Child Psychotherapy Training Course at the Tavistock Clinic, this model of psychoanalytic psychotherapy training became established in the principal Italian cities, in France and Argentina.[6]

Meltzer taught for many years at the Tavistock Clinic, and practised privately in Oxford until his death. Owing to having left the BPS, his ideas remained controversial. He supervised psychoanalytically-oriented professionals in atelier-style groups throughout Europe, Scandinavia and South America, and his visits also included New York and California.[citation needed] Since his death in 2004 his reputation has increasingly regained ground also in his adoptive country. Several international congresses have focussed on his work: in London (1998), Florence (2000), Buenos Aires (2005), Savona (2005), Barcelona (2005) and Stavanger, Norway (2007).[7]

Imago Group

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Meltzer was a member of the Kleinian Imago Group founded by the Kleinian aesthete Adrian Stokes for discussing applied psychoanalysis. The group included among others Richard Wollheim, Wilfred Bion, Roger Money-Kyrle, Marion Milner and Ernst Gombrich.[8] With Stokes he wrote a dialogue “Concerning the social basis of art”.[9] Meltzer's aesthetic interests, combined with the mother-baby model of early learning processes, led to seeing psychoanalysis itself as an art form.[10] His later works describe the relationship between analyst and analysand as an aesthetic process of symbol-making. This has had an influence on the philosophical view of the relation between art and psychoanalysis.[11]

Overview

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Some of Meltzer's significant and widely used developments of Kleinian object relations theory are as follows:

  • The aesthetic conflict, the foundation for normal development, based on the internal mother-baby relationship, was formulated in Meltzer and Harris Williams (1988) The Apprehension of Beauty
  • Intrusive identification, a form of projective identification associated with life in the Claustrum (narcissistic pathology), first formulated in early seminal papers “The relation of anal masturbation to projective identification” and “The delusion of clarity of insight”, and expanded in The Claustrum (1992)
  • Pseudo-maturity, a common clinical manifestation of arrested development
  • Adhesive identification and dismantling in two-dimensional autistic states, formulated in a work documenting Meltzer's experience with 5 colleagues in treating autistic children, Explorations in Autism (1975)
  • The preformed transference, first described in The Psychoanalytical Process (1967), referring to the patient's initial preconceptions about a psychoanalytic relationship which have to be overcome before a genuine transference and countertransference can be established
  • A reappraisal of Melanie Klein's discovery of the combined internal object, which stresses its beneficial nature as a basis for mental development, begun in Richard Week-by-Week, Part II of The Kleinian Development (1978).

The claustrum

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In his final work, The Claustrum: An Investigation of claustrophobic phenomena (1988), Donald Meltzer developed a theory of claustrophobia. Meltzer offers a Kleinian/Bionian appreciation of the phenomenon of claustrophobia, arguing that the claustrum emerges as a failure of integration in early childhood development. If there occurs massive projective identification, that the child cannot sustain, its understanding both of its own corporeality, and that of others is severely impacted. It is a result of maternal failure in the reverie and leads to an incorrect construction of the internal mother. Claustrophobia in that sense "means to be imprisoned in a state of mind without getting out", it has do with being trapped in the projective identification of others [4]

Bibliography

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  • The Psychoanalytical Process (Heinemann 1967), reprinted Perthshire: Clunie Press, 1970
  • Sexual States of Mind (1973) Perthshire: Clunie Press
  • Explorations in Autism: a psychoanalytic study (1975) Perthshire: Clunie Press
  • with Martha Harris: A psychoanalytic model of the child-in-the-family-in-the-community (a study commissioned by the United Nations, published in French in 1976 and first published in English in Sincerity: Collected Papers of Donald Meltzer (1994).
  • The Kleinian Development: Book I (Freud), Book II (Klein), Book III (Bion). Single-volume edition Perthshire: Clunie Press, 1978
  • Dream Life: a re-examination of the psycho-analytical theory and technique (1983) Perthshire: Clunie Press
  • Studies in Extended Metapsychology: clinical applications of Bion’s ideas (1986) Perthshire: Clunie Press
  • with Meg Harris Williams: The Apprehension of Beauty: the role of aesthetic conflict in development, art and violence (1988) Perthshire: Clunie Press
  • The Claustrum: an investigation of claustrophobic phenomena (1992) Perthshire: Clunie Press
  • Sincerity and Other Works: Collected Papers (1994) ed. A. Hahn. London: Karnac

For books by Meltzer translated into languages other than English, see the publishing lists of: Armando (Rome, Italy); Bollati Boringhieri (Turin, Italy); Borla (Rome, Italy), Cortina (Milan, Italy); Dunod (Paris, France); Hublot (Brittany, France); Diskord (Tübingen, Germany); Klett-Cotta (Stuttgart, Germany); Spatia (Buenos Aires, Argentina); Paradiso editores (Ciudad de México, México); Grafein (Barcelona, Spain); Kongo Shuppan (Tokyo, Japan).

As a teacher

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Meltzer was well known internationally as a teacher and supervisor.[12] He favoured an atelier-style system for the teaching and selection of candidates for psychoanalytical training, adumbrated in his paper, “Towards an atelier system”.[13]

His method was to ask supervisees to present sessions of unedited clinical material, rather than finished papers. Several of his groups and individual supervisees have documented their experiences:

  • Castella, R., Farre, L., Tabbia, C. (2003) Supervisions with Donald Meltzer. London: Karnac.
  • Emanuel, R. (2004) “A personal tribute to Donald Meltzer”, Bulletin of the Association of Child Psychotherapists 149, 11–14
  • Fisher, J. (2000) “Reading Donald Meltzer: identification and intercourse as modes of reading and relating”, Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer ed. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac, 188–202
  • Hoxter, S. (2000) “Experiences of learning with Donald Meltzer”, Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzered. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac,12–26
  • Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2000), “A Learning Experience”, Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer ed. Cohen and Hahn. London: Karnac, 203–14
  • Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2002) Psychoanalytic Work with Children and Adults. London: Karnac
  • Psychoanalytic Group of Barcelona (2007) De un Teller psicoanalitico, a partir de Donald Meltzer. Barcelona: Grafein (in Spanish)
  • Oelsner, M. and Oelsner, R. (2005) “About supervision: an interview with Donald Meltzer”, British Journal of Psychotherapy, 21 (3).
  • Racker Group of Venice (2004) Transfert, Adolescenza, Disturbi del Pensiero. Armando (in Italian)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Roger Money-Kyrle, "Review of Explorations in Autism", International Journal of Psycho-Analysis Vol. 57, reprinted in Collected Papers of Roger Money-Kyrle (Clunie Press, 1978), 450–56.
  2. ^ S. Fano Cassese (2002) Introduction to the work of Donald Meltzer (London: Karnac), xviii' R. DesGroseillers, Portraits of the British Psychoanalysts Archived June 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. For an online account of Meltzer's place in the context of Kleinian thinking, see N. Glover, Psychoanalytic aesthetics: the British school Archived June 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ For an introduction to Melanie Klein see H. Segal, An introduction to the work of Melanie Klein (Karnac, 1973)
  4. ^ a b Meltzer, “A review of my writings”, in Cohen and Hahn (ed.) Exploring the work of Donald Meltzer (Karnac, 2000) 3
  5. ^ M. Rustin, “Dr Meltzer’s contribution to child psychotherapy”, The Bulletin of the Association of Child Psychotherapists 149, Nov 2004, 9–11; M. Harris, "The Tavistock training and philosophy", Collected Papers of Martha Harris and Esther Bick (Clunie Press, 1987); A. Sowa, “Observing the unobservable: the Tavistock Infant Observation Course and its relevance to clinical training”, Fort Da, spring 1999 Vol. 1(1).
  6. ^ R. Li Causi and M. Waddell, "An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer" Journal of Child Psychotherapy Vol. 31(1) 3–5; I. Freeden, obituary, Journal of the British Association of Psychotherapists Vol. 43 (19) 88
  7. ^ "See also A. Hahn, "Dr Meltzer's Biography"". Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  8. ^ http://www.psa-atelier.org/index.php?ul=abc89aac75c4c81dc70221e0b3ea96a0
  9. ^ In A. Stokes, Painting and the Inner World (1963), reprinted in Meltzer and Harris Williams, The Apprehension of Beauty (Clunie Press, 1988) 206–7
  10. ^ J. Begoin, “Love and destructiveness: from the aesthetic conflict to a revision of the concept of destructiveness in the psyche”, Exploring the Work of Donald Meltzer, ed. Cohen and Hahn (Karnac, 2000) 119–35; G. Williams, "Reflections on aesthetic reciprocity", ibid., 136–51
  11. ^ S. Gosso, Psychoanalysis and art: Kleinian perspectives (Karnac, 2004): N. Glover, Psychoanalytic aesthetics: the British School "Introduction - Psychoanalytic Aesthetics: The British School by Nicola Glover". Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  12. ^ R. D. Hinshelwood (1989) "Donald Meltzer", A Dictionary of Kleinian Thought. London: Free Association Books. Revised edition 1991
  13. ^ Meltzer, “Towards an atelier system”, in Sincerity: Collected Papers of Donald Meltzer ed. Hahn (Karnac, 1994), 285–89

Further reading

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  • Campart, M. (1996) “Matching modes of teaching with modes of learning: a review of Donald Meltzer’s ideas”, in M. Campart and R. Berg, (eds.) Methods of Art as Paths to Knowledge. Malmo: Lund University.
  • Cassese, S. F. (2002) Introduction to the Work of Donald Meltzer. London: Karnac
  • Cohen, M. and Hahn, A. (eds.) (2000) Exploring the work of Donald Meltzer: a festschrift. London: Karnac
  • Fisher, J. (2002) “A father’s abdication: Lear’s retreat from aesthetic conflict”, International Journal of Psycho-Analysis Vol. 81(5) 963–82
  • Freeden, I. (2005) “Obituary of Donald Meltzer”, Journal of the British Association of Psychotherapists Vol. 43 (19) 88–92
  • Gosso, S. (2004) Psychoanalysis and Art. London: Karnac
  • Hahn, A. (2005) “Obituary of Donald Meltzer”, International Journal of Psycho-Analysis Vol. 86 (1) 175–178
  • Harris, M. (1975) Thinking about Infants and Young Children. Perthshire: Clunie Press
  • Harris, M. and Negri, R. (2007) The Story of Infant Development. Karnac and the Harris Meltzer Trust
  • Hindle, D. (2000) “L’enfant et les sortileges revisited in the light of Meltzer’s contribution to psychoanalytic thinking”, International Journal of Psycho-Analysis Vol. 81, 1185
  • Li Causi, R. and Waddell, M. (2005) “An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer”, Journal of Child Psychotherapy Vol. 31 (1) 3–5
  • Maizels, N. (1998) "An appreciation of the work of Donald Meltzer - as illustrated through the animated film Pinocchio", Bulletin Australian Psychoanalytic Psychology, 2–19.

https://www.academia.edu/14952920/Donald_Meltzer_the_Analyst_meets_Pinocchio_the_Real_Boy_excerpt_from_the_book_Teaching_Meltzer._

  • Maizels, N. (1992) "The wrecking and re-pairing of the internal couple", Australian Journal of Psychotherapy Vol. 24, 12–26
  • Maizels, N. (1994) "Inoculative identification in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train", Journal of Melanie Klein and Object Relations Vol. 9, 17–35
  • Maizels, N. (1995) "Smoking and intrusive identification", Bulletin Australian Psychoanalytic Psychology Vol. 10, 32–53
  • Money-Kyrle, R. (1976) “Review of Explorations in Autism”, International Journal of Psycho-Analysis Vol. 57
  • Nemas, C. et al., (2005) “Remembering Donald Meltzer”, British Journal of Psychotherapy, 21(3)
  • Vladescu F.V. (ed) (1998) Papers in Honor of Donald Meltzer. New York: esf
  • Williams, M. H. (1998) “The aesthetic perspective in the work of Donald Meltzer”, Journal of Melanie Klein and Object Relations Vol. 16 (2)
  • Williams, M.H. (1999) “Psychoanalysis: an art or a science? a review of the implications of the theory of Bion and Meltzer”, British Journal of Psychotherapy Vol. 16 (2) 127–35
  • Williams, M. H. (2005a) “The three vertices: science, art and religion” British Journal of Psychotherapy Vol. 21(3), 429–41
  • Williams, M. H. (2005b)The Vale of Soulmaking: the postKleinian model of the mind. London: Karnac
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