Alice Miller was a Polish-Swiss psychologist, psychoanalyst and philosopher who wrote several influential books on parental child abuse and its consequences. She was born in 1923 in Poland and survived the Holocaust by escaping the Jewish ghetto and living under a false name. She moved to Switzerland in 1946 and studied philosophy, psychology and sociology at the University of Basel. She became a Freudian analyst and practiced psychoanalysis for 20 years before breaking away from it and developing her own approach.

Miller’s main thesis was that many children suffer from emotional neglect and abuse by their parents, who use them to fulfill their own unmet needs and repress their true feelings. She called this phenomenon “poisonous pedagogy” and argued that it was widespread in European culture, especially before World War II. She claimed that such parenting practices led to psychological problems in adulthood, such as depression, anxiety, addiction, violence and even genocide. She cited Adolf Hitler as an example of someone who was severely abused by his father and became a tyrant as a result.

Miller advocated for the recognition and validation of children’s emotions and needs, and for the role of “empathic witnesses” who could help them heal from their traumas. She criticized psychotherapy, especially psychoanalysis, for denying the reality of childhood abuse and blaming the victims for their symptoms. She resigned from the International Psychoanalytic Association in 1988 and denounced Freud as a coward and a traitor of children. She also wrote about her own childhood experiences and how she overcame them through self-awareness and creativity.

Miller died in 2010 at the age of 87. She was widely respected and admired by many readers, activists and therapists who were inspired by her work. She was also controversial and criticized by some academics and professionals who questioned her methods, evidence and conclusions. Her legacy remains relevant and influential today, as more people are becoming aware of the impact of childhood abuse on mental health and society.

One of Miller’s most famous books is The Drama of the Gifted Child, which was originally published in 1979 under the title Prisoners of Childhood. In this book, she explored the concept of the “gifted child” who adapts to the demands and expectations of their parents and society, but loses touch with their own true self. She argued that such children develop a “false self” that is compliant, successful and admired, but also empty, unhappy and alienated. She suggested that many people who suffer from narcissism, perfectionism and self-hatred are actually gifted children who never had the chance to express their authentic emotions and desires.

Miller also wrote about the role of art and creativity in healing from childhood abuse. She believed that art could help people access their repressed memories and feelings, and transform them into something meaningful and beautiful. She herself was a painter and a poet, and used her own artworks as a way of communicating her inner world. She also analyzed the biographies and works of famous artists, such as Franz Kafka, Virginia Woolf, Pablo Picasso and Arthur Rimbaud, and showed how they reflected their childhood traumas and conflicts.

Miller’s work has inspired many movements and initiatives that aim to protect children’s rights and prevent abuse. She supported the campaign against corporal punishment and advocated for non-violent parenting methods. She also encouraged survivors of abuse to speak out and seek help, and to break the cycle of violence that is passed down from generation to generation. She was a pioneer in raising awareness about the hidden suffering of many children and adults, and in offering hope and guidance for healing.