Editing Ernest Jones (section)

==Jones–Freud controversy==
Jones's early published work on psychoanalysis had been devoted to expositions of the fundamentals of Freudian theory, an elaboration of its theory of symbolism, and its application to the analysis of religion, mythology, folklore and literary and artistic works. Under the influence of [[Melanie Klein]], Jones' work took a new direction.

Klein had made an impact in Berlin in the new field of child analysis and had impressed Jones in 1925 when he attended her series of lectures to the British Society in London. At Jones's invitation she moved to London the following year; she soon acquired a number of devoted and influential followers. Her work had a dramatic effect on the British Society, polarising its members into rival factions as it became clear that her approach to child analysis was seriously at odds with that of Anna Freud, as set out in her 1927 book ''An Introduction to the Technique of Child Analysis''. The disagreement centred around the clinical approach to the pre-Oedipal child; Klein argued for play as an equivalent to free association in adult analyses. Anna Freud opposed any such equivalence, proposing an educative intervention with the child until an appropriate level of ego development was reached at the Oedipal stage. Klein held this to be a collusive inhibition of analytical work with the child.{{sfn|Maddox|2006|pp=182–188}}

Influenced by Klein, and initiating what became known as the Jones–Freud controversy, Jones set out to explore a range of interlinked topics in the theory of early psychic development. These included the structure and genesis of the superego and the nature of the feminine castration complex.{{sfnm |1a1=Jones |1y=1927 |2a1=Jones |2y=1933 |3a1=Jones |3y=1935 |4a1=Mitchell |4y=2000 |4pp=130–131}} He coined the term ''[[phallocentrism]]'' in a critique of Freud's account of sexual difference. He argued together with Klein and her Berlin colleague, [[Karen Horney]], for a primary femininity, saying that penis envy arose as a defensive formation rather than arising from the fact, or "injury", of biological asymmetry. In a corresponding reformulation of the castration complex, Jones introduced the concept of "[[aphanisis]]" to refer to the fear of "the permanent extinction of the capacity (including opportunity) for sexual enjoyment".{{sfn|Maddox|2006|p=208}}

These departures from orthodoxy were noted in Vienna and were topics that were featured in the regular Freud–Jones correspondence, the tone of which became increasingly fractious. Faced with accusations from Freud of orchestrating a campaign against him and his daughter, Jones sought to allay Freud's concerns without abandoning his new critical standpoint. Eventually, following a series of exchange lectures between the Vienna and London societies, which Jones arranged with Anna Freud, Freud and Jones resumed their usual cordial exchanges.

With the arrival in Britain of refugee German and Viennese analysts in the 1930s, including Anna Freud in 1938, the hostility between the orthodox Freudians and Kleinians in the British Society grew more intense. Jones chaired a number of "extraordinary business meetings" with the aim of defusing the conflict, and these continued into the war years. The meetings, which became known as the [[controversial discussions]], were established on a more regular basis from 1942. By that time, Jones had removed himself from direct participation, owing to ill health and the difficulties of war-time travel from his home in [[Elsted]], West Sussex. He resigned from the presidency of the British Society in 1944, the year in which, under the presidency of [[Sylvia Payne]], there finally emerged a compromise agreement which established parallel training courses providing options to satisfy the concerns of the rival groups that had formed: followers of Anna Freud, followers of Melanie Klein and a non-aligned group of Middle or [[British Independent Group (psychoanalysis)|Independent Group]] analysts. It was agreed further that all the key policy making committees of the BPS should have representatives from the three groups.<ref>Baker, Ron 'The evolution of organisational and training procedures in psychoanalytic associations: a brief account of the unique British contribution' in Johns, J. and Steiner, R. (eds) ''Within Time and Beyond Time: A Festschrift for Pearl King'', London: Karnac, 2001, pp. 66–78.</ref>