The paternal function in Winnicott: the psychoanalytical frame.

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalysis
• Psychology

Background:

• Donald Winnicott's work, particularly his posthumously published 1955 analysis notes, contains implicit assumptions.
• The significance of the father figure in early psychoanalytic thought warrants further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify implicit assumptions in Winnicott's 1955 analysis notes.
• To explore the early emphasis on the father figure in Winnicott's work.
• To propose a new conceptual link between the 'paternal function' and the 'psychoanalytical frame'.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Winnicott's posthumously published 1955 analysis notes.
• Comparative reading of Winnicott's work and José Bleger's study on the psychoanalytic frame.
• Exploration of unconscious elements within the analyst-patient dynamic.

Main Results:

• Identified Winnicott's early (1955) focus on the father figure.
• Revealed deep Freudian roots in Winnicott's psychoanalytic thinking.
• Developed a hypothesis linking the 'paternal function' with the 'psychoanalytical frame'.

Conclusions:

• Winnicott's work demonstrates an early recognition of the paternal function.
• A novel conceptual bridge can be established between the paternal function and the psychoanalytic frame.
• Acknowledging the distinct contributions of Winnicott and Bleger while exploring their conceptual intersections is valuable.