Ontogenesis and Pathology

Abstract

We may want to look at the pathology of individuals before considering the sociocultural pathology, but that plan immediately runs into difficulties. Thinking about these pathologies separately is unrealistic, and thus is bound to lead to distortions and misunderstandings. The great British pediatrician-turned-psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott wrote that he ‘once risked the remark “There is no such thing as a baby” — meaning that if you set out to describe a baby, you will find you are describing a baby and someone else. A baby cannot exist alone, but is essentially part of a relationship.’¹ Much the same can be said of persons and society. They are two sides of a coin.