Part 13

The battle against all these resistances is our main work during the analytical treatment, in comparison with which the task of interpretation almost fades into insignificance. But by this battle and the ensuing defeat of resistances, the “I” of the patient is so transformed and strengthened that his future behavior, after the termination of the treatment, may be regarded with complete equanimity.

On the other hand, you will understand now why our treatment is so protracted. Expanse and multifariousness of the material are not as decisive factors as the question of whether the way is clear. Remember that the same course, which in times of peace, may be traveled in a few hours by railroad, may take an army, during wartime, weeks and weeks, because the resistance of the enemy must first be overcome. Battles to overcome resistance require time in soul life also. I am sorry to say that, up to now, all exertions to shorten the duration of analytical treatments to any appreciable degree, have proved unavailing. It seems that the best way to shorten the length of the treatment, is simply to apply it as correctly as possible.

“If I ever felt the temptation to dabble with your science and to attempt to analyze a patient, your information in reference to those resistances, that may be encountered, cured me thoroughly of any such ambition.

“But, tell me about the element of personal influence which you have admitted is present in the analysis. Is this not a valuable factor in the battle against resistance?”

I am glad that you bring this question up. This personal influence is our strongest dynamic weapon; it is the agent which we introduce as something new, into the analytical situation, thus lending it impetus.

This could never be accomplished by the intellectual substance of our interpretation alone because the patient, sharing all the prejudices of his environment, need not have more faith in us than our scientific critics. The neurotic coöperates with the analyst simply because he believes in him, and he believes in him because he gradually develops a certain sentimental trend toward the analyst. A child, also, believes only persons to whom it is attached.

I have already told you how we employ this especially great “suggestive” influence. Not to suppress the symptoms—it is here where the analytical method is utterly unlike any other psycho-therapeutical method!—but as a driving power to induce the “I” of the patient to defeat his resistances.

“And suppose you succeed? Would that insure easy sailing from then on?”

Such ought to be the case. But an unexpected complication arises.

It was perhaps the greatest surprise for the analyst to observe that the sentimental relations which the patient endeavors to establish, are of a very particular nature. Already the first physician who attempted analysis—it was not I—discovered this phenomenon, which served to bewilder him intensely. These sentimental relations are, to express it bluntly, of an amorous nature. Remarkable, isn’t it, if you take into consideration the fact that the analyst does nothing to invite such emotions, but rather endeavors to maintain distance, sentimentally speaking, between the patient and himself.

All this is so much more remarkable, as these odd sentimental relations utterly disregard all such obstacles, as difference in age, sex, and social strata. This amorousness appears fated. Not that it constitutes a characteristic otherwise alien to spontaneous love. You are well aware that the contrary of this may be only too frequently observed. Although it is the rule in the analytical situation, the latter, as such, cannot serve as a rational explanation for this development. To all appearances, nothing else should result from the relation between the patient and the analyst, than just a certain measure of respect, confidence, gratitude and humane sympathy. However, what really results from it is this condition of attachment, which in itself gives the impression of being some disorder.

“Well, I should say that such a development would tend to favor analytical purposes. If one is enamoured, one is complacent and ready to do almost anything for love’s sweet sake.”

Of course, in the beginning, this condition favors the analysis, but later on, when these sentimental relations gradually become intensified, displaying their inherent nature, difficulties crop up which do not promote the aim of the analysis. You see, an enamoured patient is not satisfied merely to obey the analyst. The patient becomes presumptuous, demanding tenderness and sensual gratification. Eventually, jealousy develops and the lovelorn patient gradually arrives at a stage where more and more clearly, a preparedness for enmity and revenge is shown. Simultaneously, analogous to any other form of love, all other impulses of the soul are repressed, submerging the interest in treatment and recuperation. There is no doubt that love has assumed the place of the neurosis, and that our labors have simply resulted in substituting one disturbance for another.

“That sounds hopeless. What can be done? Perhaps analysis in such a case should be discarded. But since you say that every case yields this result, then analysis in general would have to be discarded.”

First, let us take stock of the situation in order to learn from it. Whatever is thus gained may assist us in mastering the situation. After all, is it not quite remarkable that we should succeed in transforming a neurotic condition into a state of unwholesome attachment?

Our conviction that neurotic conditions arise partly from abnormally directed sentimental tendencies, gains unquestionable corroboration by our findings. Ascertaining these facts, we feel more assured and dare to make this enamoured condition the object of analysis.

We also make another observation. This condition of amorousness, as part of the analysis, is not always so apparent in all cases, as I have tried to picture it to you.

And why isn’t that the case? We shall soon see.

In the same measure as the sensual and hostile aspects of a patient’s attachment endeavor to manifest themselves, the inherent opposition of the patient against such tendencies asserts itself. He combats them and attempts to repress them, before our very eyes. Thus we come to comprehend the whole development:—The patient merely repeats, in the form of being enamoured with the analyst, experiences of his soul life of days gone by. Certain tendencies of his soul, ready to burst forth, and closely connected with the inception of his neurosis, have simply been transferred by him to the analyst. He also repeats before our eyes all those gestures of opposition, gone through before, and would like nothing so much as to repeat in his relations with the analyst, all the phases of that forgotten period of his life.

What the patient is showing us now is accordingly the very nucleus of the most intimate story of his life. He is reproducing this nucleus in a tangible form, as if actual, instead of just remembering this incipient stage of his condition. Thus, the riddle of transferred love has been solved and the analysis, with the assistance of this new discovery which, for a time, almost seemed to wreck it, may be continued.

“That is surely complicated. Does the patient believe so easily that he is not in love, and merely feels forced to revive an old episode, as it were?”

Everything now depends upon the greatest dexterity in handling this “transference,” to achieve our objective. You will easily see that the demands of the analytical technique at this point are very exacting. It is here where the most serious mistakes may be committed, or the most splendid results achieved. Any attempt to evade these difficulties, by suppressing or neglecting the transference, would be senseless. Such evasion would not be deserving of the term of analysis. To send a patient home, as soon as the discomfort of a transference neurosis manifests itself, would also be senseless and would amount to cowardice. It would be approximately analogous to calling forth spirits and then running away, as soon as they put in their appearance.

Of course, there is no other way out sometimes. There are cases in which it is impossible to master an unshackled transference, and the analysis must then be terminated. But at least one should wrestle with these evil spirits to the best of one’s ability.

To give in to the demands of a transference—the desires of a patient for tenderness or sensual gratification—is impossible, not only for moral reasons but also as it would prove impractical, if resorted to as a means to achieve a successful analysis. A neurotic cannot be healed, by being permitted to indulge in uncorrected repetitions of situations which he unconsciously prepared. When making a compromise with a neurotic, by meeting him halfway, it is necessary to take care not to be manœuvred into the ludicrous position of the clergyman, who tried to convert the insurance agent with the result that the insurance agent did not join the church, but the clergyman took out a policy.

The only way out of the dilemma of transference is to delve into the past of the patient and reconstruct events as they were actually lived through by the patient, or else only pictured, with the assistance of his urge-stimulated imagination. For all this, the analyst requires much dexterity, patience, calmness and self-effacement.

“And where, do you think, did the neurotic meet the original of this transference love?”

In his childhood, and, as a rule, in one of his parents. You will readily remember how much importance we had to attach to these earliest of all sentimental relations. Here, the circle is completed.

“You have finished, then? To be frank with you, I am quite bewildered by all you have told me. But, now pray tell me, where to study all that is necessary to practise analysis?”