Charles Rycroft
Encyclopedia
Charles Frederick Rycroft (9 September 1914 – 1998) was a British psychologist
and a well-known author. For most of his career he had a private psychiatric practice in London
.
) and Emily Mary Lowry-Corry ( see 2nd Earl Belmore). He grew up in Dummer, Hampshire, where his family owned most of the village and his father was "the local representative of both Church and State". He was educated at Wellington College
and then studied economics and history at Trinity College, Cambridge
. He became interested in psychoanalysis and on applying to Ernest Jones
was encouraged to study medicine. He studied at University College, London and training at Maudsley Hospital
. He underwent analysis firstly with Ella Freeman Sharpe
and after her death with Sylvia Payne
(inspiring a joke about the "sharps" and "pains" of analytic training).
Rycroft practised as a psychoanalyst from 1947 but became disillusioned because of the rivalry between the Kleinian
and Freudian
factions. He was influenced by W. R. D. Fairbairn
and D. W. Winnicott
from the Middle Group
in developing his own views.
He was a critic of contemporary psychoanalysis
, believing it to be rigid and formulaic. He believed that the ideal of rationality proposed by modern psychiatry
alienated the adult from his or her creative inner processes. His work with dream analysis stressed the positive aspects of imagination, and thought imagination could be beneficial to psychic development. In 1968 he resigned from the British Psychoanalytical Society
, feeling that "the real power in the Society belonged to people of whose values I did not approve...their ways of conducting business and engaging in controversy were entirely alien to me".
Rycroft was a consultant psychoanalyst at the Tavistock Clinic
from 1956 until 1968, and for a period of time was an assistant editor of the International Journal of Psychoanalysis and a training analyst with Scottish psychologist R.D. Laing. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
in 1973.
Rycroft wrote a number of works, of which the best known book is a Critical Dictionary of Psychoanalysis. He wrote extensively in a wide range of magazines, including The Observer
and The New York Review of Books
.
Rycroft had one elder brother, Henry Richard Rycroft DSC OBE RN (1911–1985), and two younger sisters: Alice Juliana Rosamond Rycroft (1915–2006) and Eleanor Mary Rycroft (1918–2000). He also had two elder half-brothers, Nelson and Richard Michael, and a third, Veloyne, who died in infancy.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and a well-known author. For most of his career he had a private psychiatric practice in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Life
Rycroft was the second eldest son of Sir Richard Rycroft 5th Baronet (1859–1925) (see Rycroft BaronetsRycroft Baronets
The Rycroft Baronetcy, of Calton in the County of York, is a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 22 January 1784 for Reverend Richard Rycroft. Born Richard Nelson, he was the only surviving son of John Nelson, and had assumed by Royal sign-manual the surname of Rycroft in...
) and Emily Mary Lowry-Corry ( see 2nd Earl Belmore). He grew up in Dummer, Hampshire, where his family owned most of the village and his father was "the local representative of both Church and State". He was educated at Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
and then studied economics and history at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He became interested in psychoanalysis and on applying to Ernest Jones
Ernest Jones
Alfred Ernest Jones was a British neurologist and psychoanalyst, and Sigmund Freud’s official biographer. Jones was the first English-speaking practitioner of psychoanalysis and became its leading exponent in the English-speaking world where, as President of both the British Psycho-Analytical...
was encouraged to study medicine. He studied at University College, London and training at Maudsley Hospital
Maudsley Hospital
The Maudsley Hospital is a British psychiatric hospital in South London. The Maudsley is the largest mental health training institution in the country...
. He underwent analysis firstly with Ella Freeman Sharpe
Ella Freeman Sharpe
Ella Freeman Sharpe was 'a pioneer of British psychoanalysis and one of the few natives of the United Kingdom among its leaders'. In 1947 she was 'said by Sylvia Payne [to have undertaken more training analyses than any other analyst in England'...
and after her death with Sylvia Payne
Sylvia Payne
Sylvia Payne was one of the pioneers of psychoanalysis in the United Kingdom.-Early life:Born as Sylvia May Moore in Marylebone, London, the daughter of Rev. Edward William Moore and his wife Letitia. Her father was incumbent of Brunswick Chapel and an adherent of the Higher Life movement, being...
(inspiring a joke about the "sharps" and "pains" of analytic training).
Rycroft practised as a psychoanalyst from 1947 but became disillusioned because of the rivalry between the Kleinian
Melanie Klein
Melanie Reizes Klein was an Austrian-born British psychoanalyst who devised novel therapeutic techniques for children that had an impact on child psychology and contemporary psychoanalysis...
and Freudian
Anna Freud
Anna Freud was the sixth and last child of Sigmund and Martha Freud. Born in Vienna, she followed the path of her father and contributed to the newly born field of psychoanalysis...
factions. He was influenced by W. R. D. Fairbairn
Ronald Fairbairn
William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn was a Scottish psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and a central figure in the development of the object relations theory of psychoanalysis.-Life:He was born in Edinburgh in 1889...
and D. W. Winnicott
Donald Winnicott
Donald Woods Winnicott was an English paediatrician and psychoanalyst who was especially influential in the field of object relations theory. He was a leading member of the British Independent Group of the British Psychoanalytic Society, and a close associate of Marion Milner...
from the Middle Group
British Independent Group (psychoanalysis)
The Independent or Middle Group of British analysts represents one of the three distinct sub-schools of the British Psychoanalytic Society, and 'developed what is known as the British independent perspective, which argued that the primary motivation of the child is object-seeking rather than drive...
in developing his own views.
He was a critic of contemporary psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
, believing it to be rigid and formulaic. He believed that the ideal of rationality proposed by modern psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
alienated the adult from his or her creative inner processes. His work with dream analysis stressed the positive aspects of imagination, and thought imagination could be beneficial to psychic development. In 1968 he resigned from the British Psychoanalytical Society
British Psychoanalytical Society
The British Psychoanalytical Society was founded by the British psychiatrist Ernest Jones as the London Psychoanalytical Society on October 30, 1913....
, feeling that "the real power in the Society belonged to people of whose values I did not approve...their ways of conducting business and engaging in controversy were entirely alien to me".
Rycroft was a consultant psychoanalyst at the Tavistock Clinic
Tavistock Clinic
The in London was founded in 1920 by Dr. Hugh Crichton-Miller, a psychiatrist who developed psychological treatments for shell-shocked soldiers during and after the First World War. The clinic's first patient was, however, a child. Its clinical services were always, therefore, for both children...
from 1956 until 1968, and for a period of time was an assistant editor of the International Journal of Psychoanalysis and a training analyst with Scottish psychologist R.D. Laing. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...
in 1973.
Rycroft wrote a number of works, of which the best known book is a Critical Dictionary of Psychoanalysis. He wrote extensively in a wide range of magazines, including The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
and The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
.
Rycroft had one elder brother, Henry Richard Rycroft DSC OBE RN (1911–1985), and two younger sisters: Alice Juliana Rosamond Rycroft (1915–2006) and Eleanor Mary Rycroft (1918–2000). He also had two elder half-brothers, Nelson and Richard Michael, and a third, Veloyne, who died in infancy.
Publications
- Critical Dictionary of Psychoanalysis (1968)
- Imagination and Reality
- Anxiety and Neurosis
- Reich (Fontana Modern MastersFontana Modern MastersThe Fontana Modern Masters was a series of pocket guides on the writers, philosophers, and other thinkers and theorists whose ideas were shaping the intellectual landscape of the twentieth century. The first five titles were published on 12 January 1970 by Fontana Books, the paperback imprint of...
, 1971) - The Innocence of Dreams (1979)
- Psychoanalysis and Beyond (1985)
- Viewpoints