Klein, Melanie (1882–1960)

Austrian child psychoanalyst. She pioneered child psychoanalysis and play studies, and was influenced by Sigmund Freud's theories. She published The Psychoanalysis of Children (1960).

Klein intended to follow a medical career. She gave this up when she married, but after the birth of her three children became interested in psychoanalysis. In 1919 she published her first paper on the psychoanalysis of young children. She moved to London 1926, where the main part of her work was done. In 1934 Klein extended her study to adult patients, and her conclusions, based on her observations of infant and childhood anxiety, were published in her book Envy and Gratitude (1957).