James Robertson (psychoanalyst)

James Robertson (1909 – 1993) was a British psychoanalyst and social worker known for his pioneering work in child observation and his films documenting the distress and behavioral changes in young children separated from their parents for short periods of time.

Robertson's work, initially conducted with his wife Joyce Robertson, focused on the impact of maternal separation on young children in hospitals. Their series of films, most notably A Two-Year-Old Goes to Hospital (1952), showed the profound distress children experienced when separated from their mothers, including protest, despair, and detachment. This research significantly challenged prevailing attitudes towards hospitalizing children, which often minimized the importance of parental presence.

His observations highlighted the psychological damage caused by separation anxiety and institutional care, leading to changes in hospital policies and practices. He advocated for unrestricted parental visiting, the provision of substitute caregivers, and other measures to mitigate the negative effects of separation on children's emotional well-being.

Robertson's later work focused on supporting foster care and adoption, aiming to ensure that children in care received consistent and loving attention to facilitate healthy emotional development. His work laid the groundwork for Attachment Theory and continues to influence child care practices around the world. He is considered a significant figure in the field of child psychology and social work.