Psychoanalytic Model In Education - Susan Isaacs Thought

Susan Isaacs (1885-1948) is a well-known British child psychoanalyst and educator, she has made a significant contribution in promoting the combination of psychoanalysis and education. Her research on intellectual and social development of early childhood, causing the extensive concern in early childhood development and education. In terms of theory, Isaacs is klein’s psychoanalysis devoted followers, she inherited klein’s unconscious fantasies theory about infant, discusses the children’s primary egocentric attitudes, aggressive behavior and friendly behavior and their deeper causes, the psychological development of sexual desire and performance, and she demonstrates klein’s psychoanalytic development theory in the education practice. In the aspect of practice, she founded the Malting House School, advocated the child-centered model of early education, applied to the ideas of child psychoanalysis to education practice. She uses unconscious fantasies, repression and sublimation of psychoanalysis principles to illustrate children’s psychological development, with the eyes of the analyst view the children behave in school. Although the school was only in existence for five years, it had a lasting impact on early years education.Isaacs, who is also a psychoanalyst and educator in one, her work not only promote the development of psychoanalytic theory and practice, but also promoted the development of the theory and practice of early education, set up a bridge between psychoanalysis and education, and become a model of psychoanalysis in education. However, due to her thoughts lack of innovation, pansexualism tendencies, as well as insufficient of research methods, it also facing questions and challenges.