In 1981 Maurice Sendak completed the extraordinary trilogy: Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, and Outside Over There. Sendak has said that he is obsessed with one and only one question: “How do children survive?” Sendak’s answer, engagingly expressed in the trilogy, is that it is by means of a poetic function, of creative imagining, and ultimately through art itself, that children may overcome the traumatic circumstances omnipresent during development. Drawing upon his own anguished inner struggle, Sendak addresses our deepest, repressed, unspeakable concerns. Dr. Gottlieb’s discussion of these ideas also includes preliminary sketches that have never been published.

Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn:
1. To appreciate Sendak’s treatment of the complexity of a child’s cannibalistic rage.
2. To elucidate the role of fantasy, dream, and artistic creation in the transformation of overwhelming affect states accompanied by hatred and death wishes.
3. To identify the role and causes of parental mis-attunement in the evocation of overwhelming affect states in children.

References:
1. Sendak, M. (1963) Where the Wild Things Are. Harper Collins, New York.
2. Sendak, M. (1970) In the Night Kitchen. Harper Collins, New York.
3. Sendak, M. (1981) Outside Over There. Harper Collins, New York.
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Physicians This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3 hours in category 1 credit towards the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters of this CME program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose. Psychologists The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This program fulfills the requirements for 3 hours of CE. Social Workers Please contact the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute’s Administrative Office at 617/266-0953 or office@bostonpsychoanalytic.org for more information.