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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A ‘PSYCHOANALYTIC’ AND A SO‐CALLED ‘NORMAL’, EVERYDAY RELATIONSHIP? THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN FREUD AND FERENCZI
Author(s) -
Russell Carla
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1752-0118
pISSN - 0265-9883
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0118.1996.tb00858.x
Subject(s) - psychoanalytic theory , tact , taboo , psychoanalysis , psychology , argumentation theory , interpretation (philosophy) , epistemology , social psychology , psychotherapist , sociology , philosophy , linguistics , anthropology
Is the form Freud gave to the analytic relationship definitive? This question will be answered by analysing the argumentation in the Freud‐Ferenczi controversy concerning the design of the therapeutic relationship. The current albeit superficial mode of interpretation of this controversy is mainly in terms of a supposed ‘warm’ emotional involvement of the analyst, as opposed to his ‘cold’ aloofness. Fundamentally however, the controversy concerns the way one should delineate the psychoanalytic relationship, as a method of treatment, from our everyday relationships. Freud and Ferenczi are the historical figures exemplifying what can be considered an ongoing debate. …My recommendations on technique given at the time were essentially negative. I considered it most important to underline what should not be done and to show the temptations opposing analysis. Almost everything to be done positively I left to the ‘tact’ introduced by you. But I aimed not at the obedients who were not aware of the elasticity of my remarks and subjected themselves to my recommendations as if they were taboo‐regulations. This should be revised one day, without, however, doing away with the obligations. Freud in a letter to Ferenczi, 4.1.1928 (Ferenczi 1928a, p. 99)