James Robertson (psychoanalyst) facts for kids

James Robertson

James Robertson (1911–1988) was a special kind of helper called a social worker and a psychoanalyst. He worked at the Tavistock Clinic in London from 1948 to 1976. This clinic was a famous place for studying how people think and feel.

A well-known expert named John Bowlby said that James Robertson was amazing. He observed children very carefully. His brave work changed how children's hospitals worked forever. He helped people understand how much children missed their parents when they were in the hospital.

James Robertson's Early Life

James Robertson was born in Rutherglen, Scotland. He grew up in a loving family. When he was a teenager, he became a Quaker. Quakers are a group of people who believe in peace. Because of his beliefs, he chose not to fight in the Second World War. He was a conscientious objector, which means he refused to join the army for moral reasons.

In 1941, James and his wife, Joyce Robertson, joined Anna Freud at the Hampstead Wartime Nurseries. These nurseries cared for children who had lost their families because of the war. James helped organize things and later became the social worker there. Both James and Joyce learned a lot from Anna Freud.

After the war, James trained to help people with their feelings. In 1948, he joined John Bowlby at the Tavistock Clinic. His job was to watch young children who were separated from their families. He started by observing children in a hospital ward in London.

Children's Hospital Stays

Back then, hospitals had very strict rules about visiting children. Parents could hardly see their kids. For example, some hospitals only allowed visits once a week for a short time. Some didn't allow visits at all for very young children.

Here are some examples of visiting hours from 1949:

These rules made children very sad. People knew that a hospital stay could change a child. But hospitals often didn't realize how much children were suffering.

Observing Children's Distress

When James Robertson first watched children in the hospital, he was shocked. He saw how unhappy the youngest children were, especially those under 3. The doctors and nurses were good at medical care. But they didn't seem to notice the children's emotional pain.

They thought children were "settling down" when they became quiet. But Robertson saw this quietness as a warning sign. After watching children for several years, he developed a theory. He said that young children (under 3) go through three stages when they are in the hospital without their mothers: Protest, Despair, and Detachment.

Protest, Despair, Detachment Stages

Robertson and Bowlby explained that when a child is separated from their parents, they react in these stages:

• Protest: In this first stage, the child is very upset. They cry loudly and call for their mother. They are angry and try to find their parent. When the child is reunited with their parent at this stage, they might be difficult for a while. It's like they are upset their parent left. But after they express their feelings, they usually go back to normal.

• Despair: If the separation lasts longer, the child moves to the "despair" stage. They become very quiet, sad, and don't care about anything. They stop playing. They give up hope that their parent will return. Hospital staff might think the child is "settling down." But when the child goes home, it takes much longer for them to recover. They might cling to their parent more. They often have to go through the "protest" stage once they are home.

• Detachment: This is the most serious stage. The child starts to show interest in their surroundings. They might play with others. But when their parent visits, the child acts like they don't know them. They don't seem to care when the parent leaves. It looks like the child has recovered, but they have actually stopped loving their parent to protect themselves from the pain. When they finally go home, they seem changed. Their relationships with others might be distant. This stage is the hardest to fix.

Many medical professionals didn't like Robertson's ideas at first. Even his friends at the Tavistock Clinic agreed that separating children was harmful. But they didn't feel the same urgency he did. They hadn't seen the deep sadness he witnessed. Today, hospitals make it much easier for parents to visit or even stay with their young children. This helps prevent the later stages of despair and detachment.

The Film: A Two-year-old Goes to Hospital (1952)

James Robertson decided to make a film to show what he saw. He hoped a film would help people understand better than just words. He bought a camera and film with a small grant. He had never used a film camera before.

The film he made is now considered a classic. It's so important that a copy is kept in the National Archives.

The film shows a 2-year-old girl named Laura. She is in the hospital for 8 days for a small operation. She is too young to understand why her mother isn't there. The nurses change often, so she has no familiar person to comfort her. She gets very upset. Then she becomes quiet and seems to "settle." But by the end of her stay, she is distant from her mother. Her trust is shaken.

This film helped bring about big changes in children's hospitals. But even today, some young children still go to the hospital without a parent. Their deep sadness and the risks to their future mental health are still a problem that needs more attention.

The film is still powerful today. It clearly shows how a young child suffers when left alone in the hospital.

Helping Children: Fostering

The Robertsons made more films showing how much young children suffered when separated from their parents in hospitals.

They also looked at the opposite situation: when a mother went to the hospital and her children were separated from her. James and Joyce Robertson actually took in children themselves. They showed that if you plan ahead and arrange good care, it can make a big difference.

They found that these fostered children formed a connection with their temporary foster mother. This connection gave them comfort and helped them feel safe. It stopped them from getting worse until they could be reunited with their own mothers.

Understanding Bonding and Attachment

In 1971, James Robertson and his wife Joyce started writing important articles. They used the term "bonding" to describe the strong feelings parents have for their babies. They used "attachment" to describe the strong feelings children have for their parents.

They explained that these two feelings happen at the same time. "Bonding" is a mature kind of love from parents. But a child's "attachment" to a parent is an immature kind of love. It can be unstable when they are very young.

The Robertsons believed that "bonding" helps parents care for their children. If parents are not bonded to their children, the children are at risk.