Psychoanalysis.  2018 Apr;29(2):33-36. 10.18529/psychoanal.2018.29.2.33.

Containing and Projective Identification

• Ryu JW

• KMID: 2435499
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18529/psychoanal.2018.29.2.33

Abstract

Several unique qualities of psychoanalysis and the psychoanalyst, which render the analysis more receptive to the patient's unconscious, need further investigations such as the concepts of projective identification and containing function. Containing the uncertainty which is inherent in the analytic encounters is inevitable and invaluable in maintaining every analysis lively and transformational to both the analytic pairs. Maintaining a capacity to think even in the turmoil of projective identification is not easy, but essential to the survival of the analysis and the analyst. The author reviewed specific aspects of these concepts and proposed a few ideas as well.

Keyword

Psychoanalysis; Projective identification; Containing; Uncertainty; Analytic listening

MeSH Terms

Psychoanalysis
Uncertainty