The concepts of "being" and "doing," as described by Winnicott and Guntrip, are discussed in relation to the dual nature of human character: the feminine and the masculine, the passive and the active. The inevitable effect that Western culture's emphasis on the "doing," masculine, aspect of human personality has on character formation, in particular on that of the psychotherapist, is examined in light of its implications for clinical work. The concepts of "being" and "doing" are presented as a useful paradigm for the understanding and implementation of several current psychodynamic theories.
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