Donald Winnicott was a pediatrician who later became an analyst. He applied the ideas of Melanie Klein (who studied under Freud) to children and adults, developing the concept of the True Self. He believed that we can only grow if we can express our authentic selves without fear of being judged.
According to Winnicott, the True Self develops through the interaction between a baby and its caregiver. A good enough parent will prevent a child from becoming traumatized by its vulnerability and allow it to satisfy its curiosity without fear. The False Self is a protective mask, which later becomes compliant and conventional behavior. Winnicott is also famous for his research on transitional objects such as security blankets. Between being completely reliant on its mother and discovering independence, a child uses these objects in place of the connection between them.
