Reviews

• the POPULAR psychology

  本書は大衆心理学者Bettelheimの代表作で、現代のテレビ時代においても尚、子供たちの間でFairy Taleが高い人気を誇るのは、それらの物語が子供たちの最も強い願望と恐怖を具体化したものであるからに他ならないことを説く内容になっています。BettelheimはFairy Taleの世界に於いて最も普遍的に見受けられるのは両親から引き離される恐怖だと言うのですが、本書の中核を成すこの部分の記述には大きな間違いがあります。つまり、Brettheimは｢精神分析ではそれを分離不安、即ち人類最大の恐怖と呼ぶ｣などと書いているのですが、実際には｢分離不安｣という用語は非精神分析学界のRank派(別称Philadelphia学派)のものなのです。

• Un libro para pensar

  Este libro te hace pensar y recapacitar sobre el origen de los cuentos de hadas y su influencia y finalidad para con los niños y niñas. Lo descubrí hace tiempo gracias a una amiga, y tenía ganas de comprármelo. Ha sido una decisión estupenda, estoy encantadísima con el.

• A classic psychoanalytical view of fairy tales

  It is well known that storytelling is an innate expression of civilization, in an effort to define who we are and to make sense of the world. The fairy tale is an important part of this tradition that has a long and rich history spanning thousands of years. First published in 1975, Bruno Bettleheim, one of Sigmund Freud's followers and an important contributor to psychoanalysis, has written an incredible book, suggesting that the fairy tale has a pedagogical use, educating the child about the struggles in life, that these struggles are an intrinsic aspect of existence. Following Plato, he believes that the literary education of children should begin with the telling of myths. In other words, the fairy tale can present models for behaviour, providing meaning and value to our lives. This wonderful book expresses this view extremely well and also provides a frame of reference towards the child's overall psychological development. I have read Freud for some years, and nowhere, including Freud himself, have I read a more succinctly expressed view on the ultimate purpose of psychoanalysis, than in this book by Dr. Bettleheim, he writes, "Psychoanalysis was created to enable man to accept the problematic nature of life without being defeated by it, or giving in to escapism. Freud's prescription is that only by struggling courageously against what seems like unwieldy odds can man succeed in wringing meaning out of existence." (P.8) Fairy tales inform us about life's struggles, hardships and the reality of death. From Bettleheim's point of view, the fairy tale is a "manifold form" that communicates to the child, educates them, against life's vagaries and realities, which are the unavoidable aspects of our existence. More specifically, the fairy tale is an educational tool to help children grow and develop into adults. He goes on to say that the child needs to be given "...suggestions in symbolic form about how he may deal with these issues and grow safely into maturity." (P.9) Bettleheim adeptly sets out to prove his theses by analysing well known fairy tales in the context of psychoanalytic theory, persuasively arguing the value of these tales towards the child's psychological development. If you are interested in psychoanalysis and would like to know more about the profound positive effects the telling of fairy tales can have on our young, this incredible book is indispensable.

• Such a pleasant reading!

  The world of fairy tales becomes much more fascinating when you enter it from a psychodynamic standpoint.

• As good as can be

  No-one can know everything about popular culture and its place in child psychology, so any work like this is bound to be questioned, even attacked. With that proviso this is really a great read. It's not "The Absolute Truth", but it is thought-provoking in a rational manner. It's not the latest thing in child psychology thinking and the presentation and language show their age, but once that is allowed for it's a good read. While reading you have to remember that this was, all those years ago, a pioneering, ground-breaking work on a taboo subject: sexual awareness and children. It is very flawed, as we now know, but finding those flaws and dealing with them has advanced childhood psychology immeasurably. Don't forget that Colombus made a mistake of a few thousand miles in his navigation, but he had no way of knowing it was a mistake, and several great nations, in North, Central and South America, have grown from his error. Bettelheim "did a Columbus" in many ways, but vital knowledge has been built by those who have taken the good of his work and highlighted and corrected his errors. It is this book's existence which is its vital quality, because that existence has been the catalyst of so much progress. Over 40 years ago I was in a long-term relationship with a psychotherapist. She "generously" gave me her copy of this book, because "it was out of date and she didn't want it any more...". That copy disappeared recently; it's nice to have its replacement on the shelf. (And this copy is free of the "challenging" additions made by the first owner of the copy it has now replaced...)

• valuable resource, should be in everyone's library

  exceptionally informative - should be in everyone's library. it's an eye-opener. i wish all parents would read this, but it's also an important work for anyone who wants to understand the fundamental importance of fairy and folk tales. great for therapists as well. a valuable resource

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