Ian Ernest Craib (12 December 1945 – 22 December 2002) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

sociologist and

psychotherapist Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome pro ...

. He was educated at

Trinity School of John Whitgift The Trinity School of John Whitgift, usually referred to as Trinity School, is a British independent boys' day school with a co-educational Sixth Form, located in Shirley Park, Croydon. Part of the Whitgift Foundation, it was established in 1 ...

, and the

South Bank Polytechnic London South Bank University (LSBU) is a public university in Elephant and Castle, London. It is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name. Founded in 1892 as the Borough Po ...

, eventually receiving his doctorate at the

Victoria University of Manchester The Victoria University of Manchester, usually referred to as simply the University of Manchester, was a university in Manchester, England. It was founded in 1851 as Owens College. In 1880, the college joined the federal Victoria University. Afte ...

. He went on to join the

University of Essex The University of Essex is a public university, public research university in Essex, England. Established by royal charter in 1965, Essex is one of the original plate glass university, plate glass universities. Essex's shield consists of the an ...

in 1973, eventually rising to the chair of Professor of Sociology. During his time at the University, he gained an international reputation in

sociology Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of Empirical ...

, and is widely read as a theoretician who ably links sociology and

psychoanalysis PsychoanalysisFrom Greek: + . is a set of theories and therapeutic techniques"What is psychoanalysis? Of course, one is supposed to answer that it is many things — a theory, a research method, a therapy, a body of knowledge. In what might b ...

. In the mid-1980s, he received qualification as a

and group analyst, bringing together his interests in the reciprocal effects between individuals, groups and societies. In the late 1980s he was central — along with Karl Figlio, Joan Busfield,

Ken Plummer Ken Plummer (4 April 1946 – 4 November 2022) was a British sociologist. He was a professor of sociology at the University of Essex The University of Essex is a public research university in Essex, England. Established by royal charter in 196 ...

and John Walshe — to the creation of a master's degree in

Sociology Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of Empirical ...

and

Psychotherapy Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome pro ...

, organised jointly by the

and the Mental Health Trust. This was one of the first university courses of its type in the country, combining clinical experience with theoretical thinking. Craib's working-class origins influenced his understanding of class systems and the politics of power, and this partly explains his attachment in his late teens to Trotskyite parties. He later rejected them, however, because of their authoritarianism. Unfair treatment and unequal distribution of power and influence angered him. In the psychoanalytic field he encouraged the sharing of the difficulties, pain, joy and fun of group

psychotherapeutic Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome prob ...

work. The need to get things right, the wonder at how interpretations were so often lost and ignored, the question of whether one should be working with the deep unconscious in therapeutic groups or making comments at the overt conscious level were constant themes that he brought to discussions. He died of cancer on 22 December 2002, at the age of 57.

Bibliography

* ''Existentialism and Sociology - a Study of Jean-Paul Sartre'', Cambridge University Press, 1976 * ''Modern Social Theory - from Parsons to Habermas'', Harvester-Wheatsheaf, London, 1984 * ''Psychoanalysis and Social Theory: The Limits of Sociology'', Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1989 * ''Modern Social Theory: from Parsons to Habermas'' Harlow: Pearson, 1992 * ''Anthony Giddens'', Routledge, 1992 * ''The Importance of Disappointment'', Routledge, 1994 * ''Classical Social Theory'', Oxford, 1997 * ''Experiencing Identity'', Sage, 1998

External links

Obituary - The Guardian

Obituary - The Times
1945 births 2002 deaths British sociologists British psychotherapists Academics of the University of Essex Alumni of the Victoria University of Manchester Alumni of London South Bank University {{UK-sociologist-stub