British psychologist and psychoanalyst of Austrian origin, the youngest daughter of the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud. She is considered the founder of child psychology in general and child psychoanalysis in particular. She developed methods of working with children, including play, the provisions of psychoanalytic theory were processed by Anna for applied assistance to parents and children in their interaction. Since Anna was a direct heir to her father’s scientific views, she primarily developed psychoanalytic ideas about the Self/Ego, in fact founding a new neo-Freudian direction in psychology – ego psychology. Its main scientific merit is usually considered to be the development of the theory of human defense mechanisms – the mechanisms by which the Self/Ego neutralizes the influence of the It / Id.
Direction of psychology: psychodynamic / psychoanalytical.