Feel with the eyes. Notes on infant observation in psychoanalysis between formation, clinical practice, and research, by V. Boursier

The volume invites us to trace back the history and development of the psychoanalytic practice of infant observation. The first part of the book sets out to examine Freud’s early observations of his grandson’s wooden reel game and Winnicott’s ‘observation in a set situation’ moving on subsequently to survey other landmark contributions to the field, including works by Anna Freud Esther Bick and Melanie Klein. Concurrently, it also provides an assessment of the rich and diverse theoretical-clinical developments of infant observation in Italy, where this practice boasts a long-standing tradition. The second part of the book addresses three main topics, representing as many contexts where psychoanalytic infant observation is normally applied: prevention, training, and clinical practice within a research framework. Throughout, the author supports her theoretical argument with excerpts from observation reports.