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Infancy
Melanie was born the youngest of four children. Her mother opened up a shop that sold plants and reptiles to help financially support the family. Melanie was handled by a wet nurse who fed her on demand, she was the only child not breastfed by her mother. It is unclear how this impacted her socioemotional development and what infant attachment style she developed by having an additional mother-like figure. -
Childhood: Lack of Attention from Parents
Klein had experienced a lack of attention from her father and from her mother at the beginning of her life too. She was able to recall a painful memory from the age of three when she climbed onto her father's lap and he pushed her off. Her father openly favored her eldest sister Emilie, and he did not consider Melanie's feelings in this dynamic. It can confidently be stated that this had a negative impact on her socioemotional development. -
Childhood: First Experience with Loss and Grieving
At the age of four, Melanie lost her sister, Sidonie, who was only eight years old. Sidonie passed away from scrofula, a form of tuberculosis. Sidonie and Melanie had a close relationship and learned to read and write with the help of her older sister. For the remainder of her life, Melanie felt a deep gratitude and love towards her late sister. At a young age, she was faced with the stages of reaction when facing death. -
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Adolescence: Pondering Professional Paths
In the last couple of years of her schooling, Melanie was inspired to study medicine just like her father. She even wanted to specialize in psychiatry. From a young age she confidently knew what career path she wanted. Stage: identity vs identity confusion -
Early Adulthood: Marriage
At the age of 21, Melanie married her husband Arthur Klein. It is stated that this was an unhappy marriage from the beginning. Stage: Intimacy vs. Isolation -
Middle Adulthood: Melanie Klein moves to London
Melanie moved from Berlin to London and became established with the British Psychoanalytical Society -
Middle Adulthood: Expansion of her work
Kleins's practice as a child analyst began in Berlin and expanded to London. Her book The Psychoanalysis of Children was released in 1932 and describes her analytical work with young children. This work was beneficial for future generations of children to come. Stage: Generativity vs stagnation -
Late Adulthood: Publishing of Envy and Gratitude
While writing this book Klein initially had a pessimistic mood. Her confidence in her future had started to return while writing. Klein was supported greatly by her friends, colleagues, and students. Stage: integrity vs despair