Isabelle Meier presents a unique examination of the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, viewed through the lens of analytical psychology. This relationship can have a huge impact on psychological development, yet it has been largely neglected in studies of the family.
Meier explores both clinical and theoretical material throughout the book. In the first part she dissects archetypal images in the intergenerational relationship, particularly as shown in fairy tales, myths and legends. From the ‘wise old woman/man’ to the ‘wicked witch’ or the ‘old wizard’, memories and experiences of these archetypes can be stored in the implicit memory and activated later in life. The second part looks at the processes and functions of implicit memory and examines the concept of the complex as it applies to grandparents, using Stern’s studies on the present moment and intersubjective phenomena. Finally, in part three, Meier presents case studies from her own practice.
Grandparents will be essential reading for Jungian analysts and psychotherapists, analytical psychologists and those in training. It will also be of interest to academics and students of Jungian studies, myth and anthropology, and readers looking to explore intergenerational family relationships.