Showing papers by "René van der Veer published in 2009"
TL;DR: It is argued that the picture of Bowlby and Robertson's work in changing the hospital conditions for young children was incomplete and that, historically, things were rather more intricate.
Abstract: It is generally believed that the work of Bowlby and Robertson was new and decisive in changing the hospital conditions for young children. The fact that parents in the UK and other European countries can now visit their sick child at any time they wish or even room-in is attributed to an acquaintance with Bowlby's findings and Robertson's well-known films about the potentially detrimental effects of hospital stays for young children. In this paper we shall argue that this picture is incomplete and that, historically, things were rather more intricate. Bowlby and Robertson were neither the first nor the only researchers who tried to change hospital policies. Moreover, the older hospital policies were not uniformly bad. Long before Bowlby and Robertson began their plea for reforms, several individuals and hospitals had already introduced conditions that we now still regard as exemplary. The whole change towards more liberal, flexible, and humane practices in children's wards took place over several decades...
30 citations
TL;DR: The work of Robertson and Bowlby as discussed by the authors is generally seen as complementary, Robertson being the practically oriented observer and bowlby focusing on theoretical explanations for Robertson's observations, but the relationship between the two men that arose in the 1960s about the corollaries of separation and the ensuing personal animosity is extensively documented.
Abstract: The work of Robertson and Bowlby is generally seen as complementary, Robertson being the practically oriented observer and Bowlby focusing on theoretical explanations for Robertson's observations. The authors add to this picture an "untold story" of the collaboration between Robertson and Bowlby: the dispute between the two men that arose in the 1960s about the corollaries of separation and the ensuing personal animosity. On the basis of unique archival materials, this until now little known aspect of the history of attachment theory is extensively documented. The deteriorating relationship between Robertson and Bowlby is described against the background of different currents in psychoanalysis in Britain in the interbellum.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reply to two commentaries on their earlier paper discussing the changing attitudes towards the care of children in hospital in the UK between 1940 and 1970, arguing that the work of Robertson and Bowlby was indeed very important in bringing about these changes.
Abstract: In this contribution the authors reply to two commentaries – published in this issue – on their earlier paper discussing the changing attitudes towards the care of children in hospital in the UK between 1940 and 1970. They argue that the work of Robertson and Bowlby was indeed very important in bringing about these changes, but stand firm that the work of Robertson and Bowlby was not new or decisive.
1 citations