Abstract
Donald Woods Winnicott was born on April 7, 1896 in Plymouth, Devon, England. He was the youngest of three children, having two older sisters. His father Frederick was a merchant who devoted much time to his business dealings, his religion (Methodist), local politics, and later to community involvements, eventually earning a Knighthood in 1924. His father spent little time at home. Donald’s mother Elizabeth suffered from depression, often putting Donald in the position of trying to cheer her up. Overall, Donald lived an enjoyable and consistent childhood. The well-to-do Winnicott household included an aunt, a nanny, a governess, a cook, and several household helpers. As a result, women surrounded young Donald throughout his childhood. This constant exposure to women likely stimulated his interest in the inner life of females. In addition, having to cope with the needs of his depressed mother, who died in 1925 of heart problems, may have led him to devote his life to the care of others, particularly women who were suffering. Winnicott grew to be only 5ft. 7in. tall and spoke with a high-pitched voice, leading some who listened to his radio broadcasts to think that a woman was speaking (Jacobs, 1995).
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References
Davis, M., & Wallbridge, D. (1981). The theory of emotional development. In Boundary and space: An introduction to the work of Donald Winnicott (pp. 29–85). London: H. Karnac Ltd.
Jacobs, M. (1995). D.W. Winnicott. London: Sage.
Kahr, B. (1996). D.W. Winnicott: A biographical portrait. London: Karnac Books.
Rodman, R. F. (2003). Winnicott: Life and work. New York, NY: Perseus Publishing.
Summers, F. (1994). Object relations theories and psychopathology. Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1949). Hate in the counter-transference. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 30, 69–74.
Winnicott, D. W. (1950). Aggression in relation to emotional development. In Through paediatrics to psychoanalysis (pp. 204–218). New York, NY: Basic Books.
Winnicott, D. W. (1953). Transitional objects and transitional phenomena. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 34, 89–97.
Winnicott, D. W. (1956a/1958). Primary maternal preoccupation. In Collected papers: Through paediatrics to psycho-analysis (pp. 300–305). London: Tavistock.
Winnicott, D. W. (1956b). On transference. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 37, 386–388.
Winnicott, D. W. (1958a/1965). Psycho-analysis and the sense of guilt. In M. Masud & R. Khan (Ed.), The maturational processes and the facilitating environment: Studies in the theory of emotional development (pp. 15–28). New York, NY: International Universities Press.
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Winnicott, D. W. (1960a). The theory of the parent–infant relationship. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 41, 585–595.
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Winnicott, D. W. (1965). Maturational processes and the facilitating environment: Studies in the theory of emotional development. London: Hogarth Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1971). Playing and reality. London: Tavistock.
Winnicott, D. W. (1975). Through paediatrics to psycho-analysis. London: Hogarth Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1977). The piggle: An account of the psychoanalytic treatment of a little girl. New York: International Universities Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1984). Deprivation and delinquency. London: Tavistock.
Winnicott, D. W. (1988). Human nature. New York, NY: Schocken Books.
Major Works
Winnicott, D. W. (1931). Clinical notes on the disorders of childhood. London: William Heinemann.
Winnicott, D. W. (1941). The observation of infants in a set situation. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 22, 229–249.
Winnicott, D. W. (1945). Primitive emotional development, International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 26, 137–143.
Winnicott, D. W. (1949). Hate in the counter-transference. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 30, 69–74.
Winnicott, D. W. (1950). Aggression in relation to emotional development. In Through paediatrics to psychoanalysis (pp. 204–218). New York, NY: Basic Books.
Winnicott, D. W. (1953). Transitional objects and transitional phenomena. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 34, 89–97.
Winnicott, D. W. (1956a/1958). Primary maternal preoccupation. In Collected papers: Through paediatrics to psycho-analysis (pp. 300–305). London: Tavistock.
Winnicott, D. W. (1956b). On transference. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 37, 386–388.
Winnicott, D. W. (1957). Mother and child: A primer of first relationships. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Winnicott, D. W. (1958b). Collected papers: Through paediatrics to psycho-analysis. London: Tavistock.
Winnicott, D. W. (1960a). The theory of the parent–infant relationship. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 41, 585–595.
Winnicott, D. W. (1960b). Ego distortion in terms of true and false self (pp. 140–152). In Maturational processes and the facilitating environment: Studies in the theory of emotional development. London: Hogarth Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1963). Dependence in infant care, child care, psychoanalytic setting. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 44, 339–344.
Winnicott, D. W. (1965). Maturational processes and the facilitating environment: Studies in the theory of emotional development. London: Hogarth Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1966). Correlation of a childhood and adult neurosis. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 47, 143–144.
Winnicott, D. W. (1967). The location of the cultural experience. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 48, 368–372.
Winnicott, D. W. (1968). Playing: Its theoretical status in the clinical situation. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 49, 591–599.
Winnicott, D. W. (1969). The use of an object. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 50, 711–716.
Winnicott, D. W. (1971). Playing and reality. London: Tavistock.
Winnicott, D. W. (1975). Through paediatrics to psycho-analysis. London: Hogarth Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1977). The piggle: An account of the psychoanalytic treatment of a little girl. London: Hogarth Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1984). Deprivation and delinquency. London: Tavistock.
Winnicott, D. W. (1987). Babies and their mothers. London: Free Association Books.
Winnicott, D. W. (1988). Human nature. New York, NY: Schocken Books.
Winnicott, D. W. (1992). The family and individual development. London: Routledge.
Winnicott, D. W. (1993). Talking to parents. Cambridge, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Winnicott, D. W. (1996). Thinking about children. London: Karnac Books.
Supplementary Readings
Davis, M., & Wallbridge, D. (1981). The theory of emotional development. In Boundary and space: An introduction to the work of Donald Winnicott (pp. 29–85). London: H. Karnac Ltd.
Jacobs, M. (1995). D.W. Winnicott. London: Sage.
Kahr, B. (1996). D.W. Winnicott: A biographical portrait. London: Karnac Books.
Rodman, R. F. (2003). Winnicott: Life and work. New York, NY: Perseus Publishing.
Summers, F. (1994). The work of D.W. Winnicott. In Object relations theories and psychopathology (pp. 137–190). Hillsdale, NJ: The Analytic Press.
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Palombo, J., Koch, B.J., Bendicsen, H.K. (2009). Donald Winnicott (1896–1971). In: Guide to Psychoanalytic Developmental Theories. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-88455-4_8
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