Perspectives on Early Parenthood and Infancy: A Psychoanalytic, Neuroscientific, Developmental and Cultural Dialogue
Book Details
- Publisher : Routledge
- Published : December 2025
- Cover : Paperback
- Pages : 304
- Category :
Forthcoming - Category 2 :
Psychoanalysis - Catalogue No : 98331
- ISBN 13 : 9781032864389
- ISBN 10 : 1032864389
Also by Ruth Roberts
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Perspectives on Early Parenthood and Infancy offers a comprehensive exploration of these vital life stages through the lenses of psychoanalysis, neuroscience, developmental psychology and diverse socio-cultural contexts.
Chronologically structured, this edited collection traces key stages of development through a rich collection of contributions from clinicians, researchers and academics across a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. The contributors look in turn at the milestones of conception and pregnancy to birth and the transition to parenthood, paying close attention to infancy and the early parent-infant relationship. The chapters explore pivotal themes, including the rapidly evolving landscape of assisted conception; the physical changes and psychological vulnerability experienced during pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood; parents’ unconscious defence mechanisms; experiences of weaning, feeding and sleeping; the perspectives of marginalised parents; and the vital role of cultural awareness in clinical practice. These topics are brought to life through clinical vignettes and current research findings woven throughout the book.
Presenting complex and meaningful information in an accessible way, each section of the book features integrative discussion chapters written by the editors which deepen theoretical understanding, while providing practical tools for clinical application and academic research, making this volume a valuable resource for both practitioners and researchers, as well as parents.
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
Table of Contents
Part I - Conception
1. Psychoanalytic perspectives on conception
Alejandra Perez
2. Fertility and reproductive health education for family building: What? Who? Why and how
Bola Grace
3. Psychoanalytic perspectives on assisted donor conception
Katherine Fine
4. Psychosocial aspects of donor conception and seeking identity of donors
Ken Daniels & Letitia Meadows
5. The social and psychological aspects of forming a family through surrogacy
Vasanti Javda
6. Discussion: Conception
Alejandra Perez & Ruth Roberts
Part II - Pregnancy
7. Physical and psychological changes: A psychoanalytic perspective
Alejandra Perez
8. Neurobiological perspectives on pregnancy
Erika Barba-Muller
9. The bodily self during pregnancy
Elena Panagiotopoulou & Catherine E.J. Preston
10. The socio-cultural context of expectant parenthood: A case study of a transgender father in his third trimester
Lisa Thackeray & Dominic Jones
11. Discussion: Pregnancy and the prenatal stage
Alejandra Perez & Elena Panagiotopoulou
Part III - Birth
12. Hopes, fears, and change during birth
Alejandra Perez
13. Traumatic births
Claudia Goulder
14. Psycho-neurobiology of physiological versus medicalized births: The role of birthing consciousness and hypofrontality
Orli Dahan
15. The bodily self during birth
Sarah Veale, Lydia Munns & Catherine Preston
16. The socio-cultural context of birth
Sergio A. Silverio & Tisha Dasgupta
17. Discussion: Birth
Alejandra Perez & Ruth Roberts
Part IV - Transition to Parenthood
18. Psychological changes and challenges in the transition to parenthood
Bjorn Salomonsson
19. Psychoanalytic thinking and the parenting couple
Kate Thompson
20. Making space for a third: A family case study
Alejandra Perez
21. Neurobiological changes in early parenthood
Helena Rutherford
22. The bodily self after birth
Elena Panagiotopoulou
23. Parenthood Readiness Education in Japan
Akira Kanazawa
24. Discussion: Transition to parenthood
Alejandra Perez & Elena Panagiotopoulou
Part V - Infancy
25. Psychoanalytic and attachment perspectives on the infant's inner world
Alejandra Perez
26. Biological bases of attachment
Paula Oliveira & Ana Mesquita
27. The role of individual factors in infant development
Jodi Swanson & Daniel H. Erickson
28. The development of self-awareness in infancy
Andrew Bremner & Victoria Southgate
29. Psychological therapies and Muslim families - Why we need to think about faith identity
Rachel Abedi
30. Discussion: Infancy
Alejandra Perez & Elena Panagiotopoulou
Part VI - The Early Parent-Infant Relationship
31. Modulation of affect, transformation of raw experiences, and expansion of the self in the parent-infant dyad
Alejandra Perez
32. Internal experiences of separations: Weaning, feeding, and sleeping
Alex de Rementeria
33. The Neurobiological Basis of Parent-Infant Attachment'
Pascal Vrticka & Amanda Lucas
34. Tuning in to baby: the importance of parental mentalising
Ruth Roberts
35. Psychoanalytic Parent-Infant Psychotherapy as preventive work
Coretta Ogbuagu
36. The socio-cultural context of parent-infant interactions: working with Orthodox Jewish families
Sue Schraer
37. Discussion: The early parent-infant relationship
Alejandra Perez & Ruth Roberts
About the Editor(s)
Alejandra Perez is a psychoanalyst, member of the British Psychoanalytical Society, and Psychoanalytic Parent-Infant Psychotherapist. Former Director of the MSc Early Child Development and Clinical Applications at UCL/Anna Freud (2012–2024), she now directs the Lab of Experiences and Adjustments in Parenthood in London, UK.
Elena Panagiotopoulou is a psychodynamic psychotherapist, academic, researcher and Director of the MSc Early Child Development and Clinical Applications at UCL/Anna Freud, London, UK.
Ruth Roberts is an academic and mixed-methods researcher. She is a Senior Research Officer within the Government Social Research profession and a Senior Researcher in the Lab of Experiences and Adjustments in Parenthood at the Anna Freud, London, UK.
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