Anna Freud: A True Child Advocate

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“Energy cannot be created, nor can energy be destroyed.” …Guggenheim, E. A., (1965)

In terms of contribution to service for children in light of the Holocaust, the second law of thermodynamics and the indestructible nature of energy may be applied to the life and work of Anna Freud. Many accounts of Anna Freud’s childhood describe a pastoral childhood in the home of the founder of modern psychoanalysis. According to Young-Bruehl, (1994) Anna Freud was one of six children born to Sigmund and Martha Freud. Young-Bruehl, (1994) Anna was said to have had moderate difficulties as a child in her early school years, until she entered private school. (Edgcumbe, 2000)

In the summer of 1915, Anna Freud established personal success as she successfully passed her teacher's examination. (Dyer, 1983) At this time, her career path differed from that of her father, Sigmund. Anna displayed early indications of a desire to work with children, whereas her father’s work was primarily focused on psychoanalysis of adults. She began translating her father's works into German. When the Freud Family vacationed separately, Anna would write to her father asking clarifications of psychoanalytic terms. While Anna displayed the qualities of a more than apt pupil of her father’s life work, her endeavors and efforts would establish her preeminence as a child psychoanalyst, an adept researcher, and a teacher. According to Dyer, (1983) Anna’s readings and translations of her father’s works marked the beginning of her direct involvement with the work of her father.

During her early years, according to Dyer, (1983) Anna worked at the Cottage Lyceum with third, fourth and fifth graders. Anna was asked to sign a contr...

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Young-Bruehl, Elisabeth (1994). Anna Freud: A Biography. New York: Summit Books. ISBN 0-

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