Alice Miller

Alice Miller was a Swiss psychologist, psychoanalyst, and author who revolutionized our understanding of childhood trauma and parental abuse. Born in Poland, Miller survived the Holocaust before studying philosophy, sociology, and psychology at the University of Basel, where she earned her Ph.D.

For two decades, Miller practiced psychoanalysis in Zurich before experiencing a profound intellectual and personal transformation. She renounced traditional psychoanalytic theories that blamed children for their fantasies, arguing instead that repressed childhood abuse and societal acceptance of corporal punishment are the root causes of adult psychological turmoil and societal violence.

Her groundbreaking 1979 book, The Drama of the Gifted Child, became an international publishing phenomenon and a cornerstone of developmental psychology. Miller authored numerous other influential works, including For Your Own Good, dedicating the remainder of her life to championing the emotional rights of children worldwide.