The Enigma of Childhood

In this book the author traces the way that early psychic development from birth up to three years is reflected throughout our lifespan, including adulthood, couplehood and parenthood. The inner child reverberating within us and thus present in our ongoing interactions with others, often colours and guides our current experiences.

Ronnie Solan

Note regarding the use of gender-specific pronouns , Preface , Introduction and Acknowledgements , Permissions , The Oral Stage-The Stage of Intimacy , Beginnings , Narcissism: an immune system for the self , The ego: an emotional self-regulation agency , Object relations: the attachment system , The Anal Stage-A Time of Negotiation , The progress of narcissism in the anal stage , Consolidation of the ego , The dynamics of object relations in the anal stage , Healthy and pathological narcissistic processes , Summary , Epilogue