About
Anna Freud, born in Vienna in 1895, was the youngest daughter of Sigmund Freud. She became a member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society in 1922 and played a key role in the development of child psychoanalysis. Her work 'The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence' (1936) is a foundational text of ego psychology. After the Anschluss, she settled in London in 1938. During World War II, she founded the Hampstead War Nurseries for children separated from their families. She later established the Hampstead Child Therapy Course and Clinic, which became the Anna Freud Centre. She contributed to the 'Controversial Discussions' within the British Psychoanalytical Society.
* 1895-12-03 — † 1982-10-09
Major works
- The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence (1936)essay
- Normality and Pathology in Childhood (1965)essay
- Beyond the Best Interests of the Child (1973)essay
- Before the Best Interests of the Child (1975)essay
Key milestones
- 1922Becomes a member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society.
- 1938Flees Nazi Austria and settles in London.
- 1941Founds the Hampstead War Nurseries with Dorothy Burlingham.
Themes
child psychoanalysisdefence mechanismsego psychologychild developmentchild welfare
Sources: psychoanalysis.org.uk · britannica.com · cambridge.org