A Pioneer In Self Psychology

Ernst Kris(1900-1957) was born in Vienna, Austria, has engaged in psychoanalysis in Vienna, London and New York, is an outstanding psychoanalyst, art historian and educator. In 1924, Kris started to accept Helene Deutsch's analysis, and thus get involved the field of psychoanalysis gradually. As the one of founders of ego psychology, Kris constructed the basic theories of ego psychology together with Heinz Hartmann and Rudolph M. Loewenstein. He advocated the cooperation in the field of theoretical research and became one of the founders of group research practice of psychoanalysis except Anna Freud. In addition, as a important figure of prestigious Vienna School of Art History, Kris share the same tutor with the famous art historian Ernst Gombrich, and has made major impact on Gombrich's art theory. Proceed from the perspective of ego psychology, Kris applied the theories of psychoanalysis to artistic creation, redefining the aesthetic significance of caricature and works of art created by insane. He developed a new way to understand human behaviors by these exploration. His "Gifted Adolescent Research Projec" which has been established at the New York Psychoanalytic Society and another longitudinal research at Yale University which lasted for 8 years are both provides abundant valuable clinical data for ego psychology.In brief, Ernst Kris have made outstanding contributions for the theory of ego psychology and psychoanalytic application in his short life. In addition, there also are several limitations in his thought:he failed to construct a clear and integrated theoretical system, exploit groundbreaking technologies and treatment and failed to break through Freud's theoretical framework. Nevertheless, Kris's theories have important significance to ego psychology and object relations school, they also have far-reaching influence for the development of psychoanalytic training and group research.