A Hundred Years of Latency: From Freudian Psychosexual Theory to Dynamic Systems Nonlinear Development In Middle Childhood. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Knight, Rona
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association. Volume 62:Number 2(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 203
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: child development -- nonlinear dynamic systems theory -- middle childhood psychology -- history of latency development -- child analysis; Psychoanalysis -- Periodicals; 616.891705
• DOI: 10.1177/0003065114531044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-0651

Abstract

A focus on the latency phase is used to illustrate how theory and developmental research have influenced our psychoanalytic views of development over the past hundred years. Beginning with Freud's psychosexual theory and his conception of latency, an historical overview of the major psychoanalytic contributions bearing on this developmental period over the past century is presented. Recent longitudinal research in latency supports a nonlinear dynamic systems approach to development. This approach obliges us to reconsider our linear theories and how we think about and work with our patients.