Marion Milner
Encyclopedia
Marion Milner sometimes known as Marion Blackett-Milner, was a British author
and psychoanalyst. Outside psychotherapeutic circles, she is better known by her pseudonym
, Joanna Field, as a pioneer of introspective journaling.
, London as Nina Marion Blackett, the daughter of Arthur Stuart Blackett, a stockbroker, and his wife Caroline Frances Maynard. She was the sister of Nobel physicist Patrick Blackett. She studied at University College, London where she graduated with a 1st Class degree in psychology
in 1924. In 1926, Milner began an introspective journey that later became one of her best-known books, A Life of One's Own (eventually published under the name Joanna Field in 1934). This started as a journal in which she would note down times that she felt happy and thoughts going through her head at those times, in an attempt to discover what happiness was; however, her introspection branched out into other areas, from an analysis of day-to-day worries to experiences which some reviewers described as "mystical". Milner's basic technique is a kind of introspection, observing fleeting thoughts ("butterfly thoughts", as she calls them) combined with an openness to sensory experience she calls "wide awareness". A Life of One's Own was well-received, attracting favorable reviews from such literary notables as W. H. Auden
and Stephen Spender
, and soon afterwards, she published a work on similar lines (again as Joanna Field), An Experiment in Leisure.
During this period, Milner became increasingly interested in Jean Piaget
and the work of Jungian analytical psychologists
. Here she was particularly interested in what she originally termed "bisexuality", but would now perhaps be better called psychological androgyny
, and also investigated Eastern philosophies such as Taoism
. In 1940, she started training as a psychoanalyst undergoing analysis with Sylvia Payne
and training with Joan Riviere
and Ella Sharp. She began practicing psychoanalysis in 1943, and became a prominent member of the Independent Group
. Her best-known work on psychoanalysis
, The Hands of the Living God, relates her own lengthy treatment of a psychotic patient and the insights she gained into her own mind. She made considerable use of painting and doodling in her therapy and was also an enthusiastic painter herself; her observations on the benefits of painting were published as On Not Being Able to Paint.
Milner married Dennis Milner in 1927 and had a son.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and psychoanalyst. Outside psychotherapeutic circles, she is better known by her pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, Joanna Field, as a pioneer of introspective journaling.
Biography
Milner was born in KensingtonKensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London as Nina Marion Blackett, the daughter of Arthur Stuart Blackett, a stockbroker, and his wife Caroline Frances Maynard. She was the sister of Nobel physicist Patrick Blackett. She studied at University College, London where she graduated with a 1st Class degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in 1924. In 1926, Milner began an introspective journey that later became one of her best-known books, A Life of One's Own (eventually published under the name Joanna Field in 1934). This started as a journal in which she would note down times that she felt happy and thoughts going through her head at those times, in an attempt to discover what happiness was; however, her introspection branched out into other areas, from an analysis of day-to-day worries to experiences which some reviewers described as "mystical". Milner's basic technique is a kind of introspection, observing fleeting thoughts ("butterfly thoughts", as she calls them) combined with an openness to sensory experience she calls "wide awareness". A Life of One's Own was well-received, attracting favorable reviews from such literary notables as W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
and Stephen Spender
Stephen Spender
Sir Stephen Harold Spender CBE was an English poet, novelist and essayist who concentrated on themes of social injustice and the class struggle in his work...
, and soon afterwards, she published a work on similar lines (again as Joanna Field), An Experiment in Leisure.
During this period, Milner became increasingly interested in Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget was a French-speaking Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher known for his epistemological studies with children. His theory of cognitive development and epistemological view are together called "genetic epistemology"....
and the work of Jungian analytical psychologists
Analytical psychology
Analytical psychology is the school of psychology originating from the ideas of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. His theoretical orientation has been advanced by his students and other thinkers who followed in his tradition. Though they share similarities, analytical psychology is distinct from...
. Here she was particularly interested in what she originally termed "bisexuality", but would now perhaps be better called psychological androgyny
Androgyny
Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ, stem ανδρ- and γυνή , referring to the combination of masculine and feminine characteristics...
, and also investigated Eastern philosophies such as Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
. In 1940, she started training as a psychoanalyst undergoing analysis 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...
and training with Joan Riviere
Joan Riviere
Joan Hodgson Riviere was a British psychoanalyst, who was both Freud's earliest translator and an influential writer on her own account.-Life and career:...
and Ella Sharp. She began practicing psychoanalysis in 1943, and became a prominent member of the Independent 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...
. Her best-known work on 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...
, The Hands of the Living God, relates her own lengthy treatment of a psychotic patient and the insights she gained into her own mind. She made considerable use of painting and doodling in her therapy and was also an enthusiastic painter herself; her observations on the benefits of painting were published as On Not Being Able to Paint.
Milner married Dennis Milner in 1927 and had a son.
Publications
- A Life of One's Own 1934
- An Experiment in Leisure 1937
- The Human Problem in Schools 1938
- On Not Being Able to Paint 1950
- The Hands of the Living God 1969