laing-biography

Art, Design & Psychoanalysis	R. D. Laing (1927- - Biography
Laing was born in Govanhill, Glasgow on the 7th October 1927. An only son of David McNair Laing and Amelia Laing, Laing entered into the world and a family that he continued to experience as difficult throughout his life. Educated in Scotland, in state and grammar schools, Laing initially showed early talent as a musician. Whilst at school Laing, a scholar, studied the classics, Greek and Latin, as well as reading philosophy extensively.
1945-51 A decision was made that although a competent musician, Laing did not show sufficient talent to follow music professionally. As a second choice, he studied Medicine at Glasgow University where, as a student, he was involved in debating and mountaineering with a group of peers, some of whom remained colleagues and friends throughout his life. Initially, Laing failed his final exams in 1950 but gained his medical qualification at his first re-sit. His medical career began with a period of work at a Neurosurgical Unit near Glasgow. Here he was to witness some of the then routine, but now considered brutal surgery involved with frontal lobotomies and general brain surgery performed as treatment for acute psychiatry disorders. This left Laing with and interest that confirmed his overall disillusionment with medical treatments for psychiatry illnesses.
1951-53: A period of conscription followed and Laing became a field doctor in a Psychiatric Unit, at Netley near Southampton followed by a short period at the Military Hospital, Catterick, Yorkshire. 1952 He also married his pregnant girlfriend Anne, during this period. His first child, of 5, was born shortly after the marriage. 1953 Published his first paper in an Army medical journal. 1953-56 Laing, having left the army, completed his psychiatric training at the Gartnavel Royal Mental Hospital. He set up the first experimental treatment setting - the 'Rumpus Room' where patients spent time in comfortable surroundings. Both staff and patients dressed in normal clothes spending time cooking and in art activities, where patients could respond to staff and each other in social rather than institutional settings. 1956 Laing qualified as a psychiatrist. In May 1956 he read Colin Wilson's The Outsider which he vowed to emulate and began writing The Divided Self. Late 1956, Laing is appoint as the Senior Registrar at the Tavistock Clinic, London and is accepted for training as a psychoanalyst by the Institute of Psychoanalysis. He conducts a four year period of analysis with the psychoanalyst Charles Rycroft. The benefits of this analysis were uncertain but revealed a deep depression located in Laing's earliest memories of a distant mother who's own father died two months following Laing's birth. Depression was a significant factor throughout Laing's life. 1957 Laing begins research for the book Sanity, Madness and the Family. He also begins a series of seminars which involved collaboration with Aaron Esterson, co-author of Sanity, Madness and the Family 1964 and with David Cooper, co-author of Reason and Violence 1964 1960 The Divided Self published by Tavistock Clinic. It received favorable reviews but did not sell well. Laing sets up in private practice having qualified as a psychoanalyst, with some difficulty and doubt from the Institute over his acceptability and health in general. He begins to experiment using LSD as a treatment. 1961 Self and Others published by Tavistock 1962 Meets the American psychologist, Gregory Bateson , whilst on a research trip to the US. Appointed clinical director of the Langham Clinic, London. Begins to appear on TV and in the popular media. His marriage begins to collapse and an affair commences with Sally Vincent, a Daily Express Journalist. 1964 TV appearances continue alongside publication of Sanity, Madness and the Family. Meets poet Timothy Leary in New York. Wrote a series of articles later to be published in The Politics of Experience and The Bird of Paradise
1965 Another affair with Jutta Werner, a graphic designer, who he later marries once divorced from his first wife, Anne. Opens Kingsley Hall Project with Aaron Esterson, David Cooper and others. This was an experimental, non-heirarchical community where schizophrenics were given space to work through their psychosis without resort to drugs, ECT or surgery . Inspired by earlier experiences in 'The Rumpus Room', Cooper's 'Villa 21' a community for schizophrenics with no distinction between staff and patients and Esterson's experiences of a kibbutz for schizophrenics in Israel. 1967 Two more books published, and a son is born to Jutta. 1970 Kingsley Hall Project closed. Second child born. 1971 Knots published. Travels to Ceylon with Jutta Werner and their two children. Here he studies meditation and Buddhism. After their visas expired the couple moved on to India where Laing studies Hindu religion, and the cult of the Hindu goddess Kali. Learns Sanskrit and visits Timothy Leary's guru. 1972 Returns to London. Embarks on a lecture tour of the US. Appears on TV with Norman Mailer. Meets Elizbeth Fehr, a 'rebirthing' psychotherapist. 1973 Begins running 'rebirthing' classes in London. 1974 Marries Jutta Werner 1976 Do You Really Love Me? and The Facts of Life published. 1978 Conversations with Children published. 1980 Three week conference held in Zaragosa, Spain with several notable figures involved. 1985 Wisdom, Madness and Folly, his autobiography, published. 1986 Divorces Jutta Laing. 1987 Forced to resign from the medical register of General Medical Council. 1988 Participated in Canadian Documentary entitled Did you used to be R.D. Laing? 1989 Died of a heart attack whilst playing tennis in St. Tropez, France.
Biographies Clay, John (1996) R. D. Laing: A Divided Self London, Sceptre Laing, Adrian (1994) R. D. Laing: A Life London, Harper Collins Dore, Philip (2000) The Unofficial R. D. Laing Website http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/5214/laing.html