Interpretations go beyond assigning unconscious meaning to analytic material. They inevitably communicate the analyst's assessments of the patient's present and past conflicts, and his expectations for their future resolution. The analyst's estimation of a patient's potential, as well as his personal investment in helping the patient realize that potential, is embedded in the interpretive process. Although careful analysis of unintended interpretive influences on a patient's uansference and resistance is required to assure relative neutrality, there remains a residual conditioning effect of interpretations that catalyzes the analytic process and reinforces a patient's efforts to change.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Arlow, J. (1981). Theories of pathogenesis. Psychoanal. Q., 50:48–514.
2.
Arlow, J. (1987). The dynamics of interpretation. Psychoanal. Q., 56:68–87.
3.
Blum, H. (1981). Some current and recurrent problems of psychoanalytic technique. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 29:47–68.
4.
Cooper, S. (1993). Interpretive fallibility and the psychoanalytic dialogue. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 41:95–126.
5.
Freud, A. (1936). The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense. New York: Int. Univ. Press, 1966.
6.
Freud, S. (1900). The interpretation of dreams. S. E., 4/5.
7.
Freud, S. (1912a). The dynamics of transference. S. E., 12:99–108.
8.
Freud, S. (1912b). Recommendations to physicians practising psycho-analysis. S. E., 12:111–120.
9.
Freud, S. (1913). On beginning the treatment. S. E., 12:123–144.
10.
Freud, S. (1915). Observations on transference-love. S. E., 12:157–171.
11.
Freud, S. (1937). Analysis terminable and interminable. S. E., 23:216–253.
12.
Friedman, L. (1969). The therapeutic alliance. Int. J. Psychoanal., 50:139–154.
13.
Friedman, L. (1985). Potentiality shrouded how the newer theories work. Psychoanal. Q., 54:319–414.
14.
Friedman, L. (1988). The Anatomy of Psychotherapy. New York: Analytic Press.
15.
Gray, P. (1973). Psychoanalytic technique and the ego's capacity for viewing intrapsychic conflict. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 21:474–494.
16.
Gray, P. (1982). ”Developmental lag“ in the evolution of technique for psychoanalysis of neurotic conflict. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 30:621–655.
17.
Gray, P. (1991). On transferred permissive or approving superego functions: the analysis of the ego's superego activities, part II. Psychoana. Q., 60:1–21.
18.
Hartmann, H. (1951). Technical implications of ego psychology. In Essays on Ego Psychology. New York: Int. Univ. Press, 1964, pp. 142–154.
19.
Hoffer, A. (1985). Toward a definition of psychoanalytic neutrality. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 33:771–795.
20.
Hoffman, I. Z. (1983). The patient as interpreter of the analyst's experience. Contemp. Psychoanal., 19:423–456.
21.
Hoffman, I. Z. (1991). Discussion: toward a social-constructionist view of the psychoanalytic situation. Psychoanal. Dialogues, 1:74–105.
22.
Levy, S. & Inderbitzin, L. (1992). Neutrality, interpretation, and therapeutic intent. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 40:989–1012.
23.
Loewald, H. (1960). On the therapeutic action of psychoanalysis. Int. J. Psychoannl., 41:16–33.
24.
McLaughlin, J. (1981). Transference, psychic reality, and countertransference. Psychoanal. Q., 50:639–664.
25.
McLaughlin, J. (1991). Clinical and theoretical aspects of enactment. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 39:595–614.
26.
Michels, R. (1985). Introduction to panel: perspectives on the nature of psychic reality. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 33:515–519.
27.
Poland, W. (1984). On the analyst's neutrality. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 32:283–299.
28.
Poland, W. (1986). The analyst's words. Psychoanal. Q., 55:244–272.
29.
Ricoeur, P. (1977). The question of proof in Freud's psychoanalytic writings. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 24:835–871.
30.
Raphling, D. (1992). Some vicissitudes of aggression in the interpretive process. Psychoanal. Q., 61:352–369.
31.
Schafer, R. (1959). Generative empathy in the treatment situation. Psychoanal. Q., 28:342–371.
32.
Schafer, R. (1976). A New Language for Psychoanalysis. New Haven, CT: Yale Univ. Press.
33.
Schafer, R. (1983). The Analytic Attitude. New York: Basic Books.
34.
Schafer, R. (1985a). Wild analysis. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 33:275–300.
35.
Schafer, R. (1985b). The interpretation of psychic reality, developmental influences, and unconscious comunication. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 33;537–554.
36.
Schwaber, E. (1990). Interpretation and the therapeutic action of psychoanalysis. Int. J. Psychoanal., 71:229–239.
37.
Shapiro, T. (1992). Words and feelings in the psychoanalytic dialogue. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 39(Suppl.):321–348.
38.
Smith, H. (1990). Cues: the perceptual edge of the transference. Int. J. Psychoanal., 71:219–228.
39.
Spence, D. P. (1982). Narrative Truth and Historical Truth: Meaning and Interpretation in Psychoanalysis. New York: Norton.
40.
Stern, D. N. (1985). Some controversies regarding constructivism and psychoanalysis. Contemp. Psychoanal., 21:201–208.
41.
Ticho, E. (1972). Termination of psychoanalysis: treatment goals, life goals. Psychoanal. Q., 41:315–333.
