In this course we shall read texts written by influential theoreticians in psychoanalysis that accepted Freud's theoretical premises, but nonetheless sought to develop his ideas in their own unique directions. The texts were written by practitioners working in different places and at different times during the 20th century. We shall see that the ideas and mental distresses mentioned in the texts are characteristic of a place and time when written, while expressing universal human insights made over time key concepts in psychoanalytic thinking. The focus will be put on theoretical concepts related to the development of the ego and the self. We shall read texts by Melanie Klein, Erik Erikson, Jacques Lacan and Donald Winnicott.