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THE CONCEPT OF OBJECTIVE COUNTERTRANSFERENCE AND ITS ROLE IN A TWO-PERSON PSYCHOLOGY

THE CONCEPT OF OBJECTIVE COUNTERTRANSFERENCE AND ITS ROLE IN A TWO-PERSON PSYCHOLOGY Objective countertransference comprises those feelings the analyst experiences with the patient that are repetitions of feelings from the patient’s life outside the analysis. It is viewed as being induced by the patient and is understood in the context of the patient’s life, not the analyst’s. The concept is used to understand the relationship of some of the analyst’s feelings to recurrent interpersonal patterns in the patient’s life. It has often been viewed as being incompatible with a two-person psychology. Here, in contrast, it is argued that objective countertransference is only one current within the analyst’s total emotional response to the patient, and that it should be conceptualized as a component of a broader two-person psychology. However, the use of objective countertransference as a conceptual tool highlights aspects of the analytic relationship that differ from those emphasized in current two-person models. A case example is analyzed from both perspectives to illustrate their similarities and differences. Although the concept of objective countertransference can enrich the analyst’s understanding of certain dimensions of the analytic relationship, it is not a theory of technique and it is not wedded to any particular style of psychoanalytic intervention. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The American Journal of Psychoanalysis Springer Journals

THE CONCEPT OF OBJECTIVE COUNTERTRANSFERENCE AND ITS ROLE IN A TWO-PERSON PSYCHOLOGY

The American Journal of Psychoanalysis , Volume 66 (1) – Mar 17, 2006

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References (21)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 by Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
Subject
Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Psychotherapy; Psychoanalysis
ISSN
0002-9548
eISSN
1573-6741
DOI
10.1007/s11231-005-9001-3
pmid
16544199
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Objective countertransference comprises those feelings the analyst experiences with the patient that are repetitions of feelings from the patient’s life outside the analysis. It is viewed as being induced by the patient and is understood in the context of the patient’s life, not the analyst’s. The concept is used to understand the relationship of some of the analyst’s feelings to recurrent interpersonal patterns in the patient’s life. It has often been viewed as being incompatible with a two-person psychology. Here, in contrast, it is argued that objective countertransference is only one current within the analyst’s total emotional response to the patient, and that it should be conceptualized as a component of a broader two-person psychology. However, the use of objective countertransference as a conceptual tool highlights aspects of the analytic relationship that differ from those emphasized in current two-person models. A case example is analyzed from both perspectives to illustrate their similarities and differences. Although the concept of objective countertransference can enrich the analyst’s understanding of certain dimensions of the analytic relationship, it is not a theory of technique and it is not wedded to any particular style of psychoanalytic intervention.

Journal

The American Journal of PsychoanalysisSpringer Journals

Published: Mar 17, 2006

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