British Psychoanalytical Society

Ernest Jones established the society in 1913, shortly after he returned to London from Canada. The society had 9 founding members including William Mackenzie, Maurice Nicoll and David Eder.[1] Almost immediately, the society was caught up in the international controversy between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud. Many of the society's membership were followers of Jung's theories, although Jones himself enjoyed a close relationship with Freud and wished for the society to be unambiguously Freudian.[2]

The outbreak of World War One in 1914 meant that the nascent society, which depended on correspondence with psychoanalysts in Vienna, then part of Austria-Hungary, had to be suspended. There were a few informal meetings during the war, but these became less and less frequent as the war went on.

In 1919, Ernest Jones refounded the society as the British Psychoanalytical Society. He took the opportunity to define the society as Freudian in nature, removing most of the Jungian members. With the help of John Rickman, the society established a clinic and a training arm, known as the Institute of Psychoanalysis.[3]

In the 1920s, Ernest Jones and the society grew increasingly under the influence of Melanie Klein. Jones was inspired by her writings to develop several psychoanalytical concepts. In 1925, Klein delivered a series of talks at the society, and Jones invited her to move to London, which she did shortly after.[4] Klein's work was well received in London, but it attracted increasing controversy on the continent, where most psychoanalysts were based.

The rise of the Nazi Party in Germany and later in Austria, led to increasing numbers of German and Austrian Psychoanalysts fleeing to London, where they joined the burgeoning society. By 1937, 13 out of 71 members were refugees from Europe.[2] Ernest Jones personally intervened to bring Sigmund Freud and his daughter, Anna Freud, to London.[1] In 1938, Sigmund Freud wrote to Jones:

"The events of recent years have made London the principal site and center of the psychoanalytical movement. May the society carry out the functions thus falling to it in the most brilliant manner."[5]

By the start of the second world war, 34 out of 90 members were emigres from the continent. Among them were:

However, the assimilation of so many prominent Psychoanalysts from continental Europe created tensions. The huge difference in the approaches of Anna Freud and Melanie Klein led to the development of several factions. Increasingly, presentations of papers at the society became thinly veiled attacks on opposing factions theories. For example, in March 1937 Melitta Schmideberg (Klein's daughter) presented her paper: "After the Analysis – Some Phantasies of Patients", which viciously attacked almost all of Klein's ideas, though it did not mention her by name.[6][7]

James Strachey, one of the leaders of the scientific committee

By 1942, relations between the factions within the society had become so heated that a committee had to be convened to facilitate monthly discussions on the scientific nature of the society.[8] The committee was chaired by three members of the society, each representing one of the major factions:

• James Strachey – a member of the British Independent Group.
• Marjorie Brierley – an ally of Melanie Klein.
• Edward Glover – who identified as 'pure Freudian', in opposition to Melanie Klein. Glover resigned from the society in 1944, along with several other Freudian psychoanalysts.

After heated debate, the committee resolved to a "gentleman's agreement" – which ensured that each faction would have equal representation within all committees within the society. It was also agreed that training of future psychoanalysts at the institute would be organised into two pathways: one Kleinian, and one Freudian.

With the resolution of the controversial discussions, the society became dominated by independent psychoanalysts such as Donald Winnicott, Michael Balint or Wilfred Bion.

• Ella Sharpe – Became a member in 1921.[9]
• Donald Winnicott – President of the society twice: 1954 – 56 and 1963 – 65.[10]
• Melanie Klein – A member for over 30 years.[11]
• Wilfred Bion – A member from 1950.[12]
• Donald Meltzer – A member from the mid-1950s to the early 1980s[13]
• Marjorie Brierley – A member from 1930 until her death.[14]
• Rose Edgcumbe
• Ronald Fairbairn
• Anna Freud
• André Green
• Stephen Grosz
• Betty Joseph
• Lionel Penrose
• John Rickman
• Joan Riviere
• Charles Rycroft

Through its related bodies, the Institute of Psychoanalysis and the London Clinic of Psychoanalysis, it is involved in the teaching, development, and practice of psychoanalysis at its headquarters at Byron House, west London. It is a constituent organization of the International Psychoanalytical Association and a member institution of the British Psychoanalytic Council.

• Controversial discussions

• The British Psychoanalytical Society
• International Psychoanalytical Association
• British Psychoanalytic Council
• "Archival material relating to British Psychoanalytical Society". UK National Archives.
• "Archival material relating to the Institute of Psychoanalysis". UK National Archives.