The main objective of this paper is to present a unified view on Winnicott’s contribution to psychoanalysis. Part I (Sections 1-4) starts by recalling that, according to some distinguished commentators, Winnicott introduced a paradigm change in psychoanalysis. In order to show that this change can be interpreted as a “paradigm switch” in the sense of Th. S. Kuhn, I give an account of the Kuhnian view of science and offer a reconstruction of the Freudian Oedipal, Triangular or “Toddler-in-the-Mother’s-Bed” Paradigm. In the Part II (Sections 5-13) it is shown that already in the 20’s Winnicott found unsupportable anomalies in the Oedipal paradigm and, for that reason, started what may be called revolutionary research for a new framework of psychoanalysis. This research ended by Winnicott producing, especially during the last period of his life, an alternative Dual or “Baby-on-the-Mother’s-Lap” Paradigm. This new paradigm is described in some detail, especially the paradigmatic dual mother-baby relation and Winnicott’s dominant theory of maturation. Final remarks are dedicated to questions of Winnicott’s heritage and the future of psychoanalysis.

Key words: paradigm, Freud, Oedipal Paradigm, Winnicott, “Baby-on-the-Mother’s-Lap” Paradigm.