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Perspectives on Early Parenthood and Infancy: A Psychoanalytic, Neuroscientific, Developmental and Cultural Dialogue

Editor : Alejandra Perez, Editor : Elena Panagiotopoulou, Editor : Ruth Roberts

Reviews and Endorsements

This ambitious book represents an outstanding contribution that bridges psychoanalytic thought, contemporary neuroscience, developmental psychology, and the cultural context, creating a cohesive and unique dialogue across these essential disciplines. The approach and language are exceptionally clear ensuring that this book will appeal to readers from diverse professional backgrounds—clinicians, researchers, as well as academics - helping them think deeply about complex interdisciplinary approaches. By thoughtfully integrating diverse perspectives this book not only enriches our theoretical understanding but also provides practical tools for clinicians. It is an indispensable resource, expertly crafted to advance both clinical intervention and scholarly inquiry.
Eamon McCrory, CEO of Anna Freud and Professor of Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology at UCL, London, UK

A marvellous resource book for clinicians, researchers, policy makers, as well as parents themselves, which brings together the varied disciplines within the perinatal field. This much-needed book takes the reader on a dazzling journey through the prism of psychoanalytic, developmental, psychosocial, neuroscientific, cross-cultural, and empirical lenses. In linking the diverse disciplines in the field, the authors encompass the internal and external dimensions that shape our understanding of conception, pregnancy and birth, the transition to parenthood, infant development, and the parent-infant relationship. This creative synergy provides the most comprehensive account of human development for the twenty-first century, tackling issues such as new reproductive technologies, socio-cultural developments, and cutting-edge research. These varied perspectives are in a constant dialogue throughout, helping to build an understanding of the complexity of early parenthood and infancy, and of the foundations of human development. Not only this, but the book also achieves a remarkable synthesis, with a unique way of integrating the different approaches it explores and formulating their implications for our understanding of the developing infant’s needs, and the emotional challenges of parenthood. This unique book will stimulate wider explorations, new jumping off points for research, and engender the birth of many developments clinically, and theoretically. Above all it is rich with informed and practical guidance for practitioners and parents alike. Beautifully written, with vivid and compelling clinical vignettes, it is a book that is full of life. A must read, this is set to be a game changer for clinicians, researchers and policy makers in perinatal health and social care – and beyond.
Andrew Balfour, PhD, CEO Tavistock Relationships

This book provides an innovative and contemporary perspective on infancy and parenthood, through socio-cultural, neurobiological, developmental and psychoanalytic writing. The centrality of the parent infant relationship is woven throughout the book in lively examples as well as by masterful introductions and summaries by the editors. The combination of psychoanalytic theory, with the 21st century world of assisted ways to become a parent, while also addressing the intersectional issues of social, economic, cultural and racial aspects of infancy and parenthood is unique and a hugely welcome addition to the modern field of parent-infant psychotherapy.
Michela Biseo, ACP, BPC. Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, Psychoanalytic Parent Infant Psychotherapist, Course Director of the Specialist training in Parent-Infant Psychotherapy at the British Psychotherapy Foundation, London, UK

This book takes the reader where no other book has taken them before; at that critical time in the human life span when the relational and cultural history of one generation becomes embodied in the minds and brains of the next. In this pathbreaking synthesis, the reader learns from state-of-the-art research, as well as from mature, clinical wisdom but most importantly, the reader is given for the first time the tools to finally understand how to fill in the knowledge gaps between the fields.
Katerina Fotopoulou, Professor of Psychodynamic Neuroscience at University College London (UCL), Director of Katlab and a chartered counselling psychologist and UKCP-registered psychotherapist

This lively, engaging and thought-provoking book achieves the remarkable feat of bringing multiple disciplinary perspectives into meaningful dialogue around the vital experiences of infancy and early parenthood, which should be of interest to us all given the enormous significance of this critical period of life for later development. Importantly, alongside the psychoanalytic and developmental perspectives the authors have included both neuroscientific research and a consideration of the ways in which families’ varying cultural contexts can challenge our theoretical assumptions about what ‘good enough’ looks like, resulting in a thoroughly up-to-date contribution. Essential reading for everyone with an interest in the early years.
Liz Allison, Director of the UCL Psychoanalysis Unit

This impressive book spans the disciplines of psychoanalysis, developmental and neurobiological research, socio-cultural and attachment theory and their applications in the broad field of early life. It is thoroughly contemporary in what it encompasses without neglecting the wisdom of earlier contributions; a pleasure to read across its complexity where experiences of conception, pregnancy birth and early life are presented in the round, enriching our understanding.
Angela Joyce, Training and Supervising Analyst of the British Psychoanalytical Society and pioneered work with parents and infants at the Anna Freud

This volume offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date exploration of psychoanalytic perspectives on early development, weaving together insights from psychoanalysis, neuroscience, and developmental research. It provides a landmark synthesis of contemporary thought on infancy and early parenthood. With its clear and accessible style, it invites seasoned researchers and clinicians as well as curious newcomers to engage deeply with the latest thinking in the field. Essential reading for anyone interested in the emotional foundations of early life, this book promises to be a lasting resource for years to come.
Patrick Luyten, Professor of Psychodynamic Psychology at the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Psychology and Director of the PhD in Psychoanalysis programme in UCL, London, UK