Deprivation and Delinquency: D.W. Winnicott [Paperback]

D.W. Winnicott (Author), Madeleine Davis (Editor), Ray Shepherd (Editor), Clare Winnicott (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415059038 | ISBN-13: 978-0415059039 | Publication Date: February 20, 1985 | Edition: New edition

D. W. Winnicott (1896-1971) was one of the giants of child psychiatry and analysis. Whether writing or talking, he always argued eloquently for an increased sensitivity to children, their development and their needs. His books such as Playing and Reality and The Family and Individual Development, are now considered classics in the field of child development.

Deprivation and Delinquency is an invaluable compilation of his papers, talks, letters and lectures between 1930 and 1970, centred on the theme of the relationship between antisocial behaviour, or more chronically delinquency, and childhood experiences of deprivation. Linking passages by the editors set the historical context for four sections focusing on children under stress, the nature and origin of antisocial tendency, the practical management of difficult children, and individual therapy with the antisocial personality.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

D. W. Winnicott (1896-1971) was one of the giants of child psychiatry and analysis. Whether writing or talking, he always argued eloquently for an increased sensitivity to children, their development and their needs. His books such as Playing and Reality and The Family and Individual Development, are now considered classics in the field of child development.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; New edition edition (February 20, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415059038
• ISBN-13: 978-0415059039
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,192,761 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Early loss of the caregiver and later behavior problems, April 13, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Deprivation and Delinquency: D.W. Winnicott (Paperback)

This little book should be required reading for everyone who works with kids who have serious behavior problems. Winnicott was a pediatrician and psychoanalyst who had many years of close, intimate contact with families, especially families of troubled children. He makes a convincing case that children who steal, lie, destroy property, assault others, etc. are attempting to compensate for early separation/loss of an important caregiver. He views such behaviors as attempts to coerce the environment into taking notice and "containing" the child. As such, these behaviors are "hopeful", and are viewed as the child's efforts to reclaim the satisfactions that were lost -- to take back what once was theirs. Children who had adequate care that was lost are the children Winnicott suggests become anti-social. There are numerous vignettes of his personal experiences in trying to treat delinquent kids. He makes a compelling argument for early loss as a decisive factor in later delinquent acts. Although he ultimately felt that "treatment" was only possible after an extended period of "containment", he maintained his conviction that these kids have sustained losses too dreadful for them to think about. He was a good-humored and compassionate clinician with an enduring belief in the profound importance of the child's early relationships. People who work with delinquent kids may just find that Winnicott's understanding of children helps them hang on when the going gets tough. I treasure this book. Another great Winnicott book is "Therapeutic Consultations in Child Psychiatry", an out-of-print classic.