Written by a pioneer of child analysis, and illustrated by fascinating clinical pictures drawn from childhood and adolescence, it discusses those adaptive measures by which painful and unwanted feeling-states are kept at bay or made more bearable.Anna Freud's arguments have a clarity and cogency reminiscent of her father's and the work is remarkable undated. Nothing [...]

The author, psychoanalyst, explains major character types and demonstrates specific ways that understanding one’s individual personality structure. Guidelines are provided for developing a systematic yet flexible diagnostic formulation.