Methodological pluralism and interdisciplinarity in René Spitz’s psychoanalytic research

foundations and strategies

Authors

  • Michelle Vianna Goliath Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
  • Richard Theisen Simanke Federal University of Juiz de Fora

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/1676-1669.2022.36326

Keywords:

Child Psychoanalysis, Spitz, Child Psychopathology, research methodology

Abstract

This paper addresses René Spitz’s research on child development and early psychopathological disorders, emphasizing its methodological aspects and how the author seeks to articulate experimental research and the psychoanalytic clinical and theoretical perspective. The main methods and complementary procedures of his empirical research are presented and discussed, based on the analysis of the author’s original publications. Criticism and debates that surrounded his works at the time are also revisited and analyzed. In conclusion, it is argued that Spitz’s works, despite their limitations, constitute a significant historical example of how psychoanalysis can benefit from a more plural and interdisciplinary perspective in its clinical and empirical research.

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Author Biographies

Michelle Vianna Goliath, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

Michelle Vianna Goliath is a Master's student in History and Philosophy of Psychology at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. 

Richard Theisen Simanke, Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Richard Theisen Simanke has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of São Paulo. He is a teacher at the Department of Psychology of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora and at the Psychology Postgraduate Program in the same institution. 

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Published

2022-06-13

How to Cite

Goliath, M. V. ., & Simanke, R. T. (2022). Methodological pluralism and interdisciplinarity in René Spitz’s psychoanalytic research: foundations and strategies. Memorandum: Memory and History in Psychology, 39. https://doi.org/10.35699/1676-1669.2022.36326

Issue

Vol. 39 (2022)

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Articles

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