Some Early Manifestations of Transference—Their Implications for the First Phase of Psychoanalysis

1Patients' responses to beginning analysis are stimulated by reactions to the psychoanalyst and the psychoanalytic process, a relationship and a situation uniquely structured to foster regression and observation. In particular, the total situation encourages the development of transferences and a repetition of the infantile neurosis in current form, the transference neurosis. Reactions to these processes take the form of defenses against the transference and the defense transferences. During the first phase of an analysis, the patient develops an alliance in which the observing ego, relatively conflict-free, operating mainly with neutralized energy, begins to perceive the work through these defensive maneuvers. This observing ego receives reinforcement from the positive transferences, the identifications, and the real situation.

2This alliance has been variously termed a working alliance or a therapeutic alliance. This alliance is fostered by preliminary clarifying, educative, and interpretative comments which, although they are incomplete interpretations, offer preliminary demonstrations of the method and its value. These demonstrations initiate the process of acquiring insight and encourage the patient's