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Virginia Clower, in her introductory remarks, stated that the issues touched on by the presentations are on the frontier of psychoanalytic theory. They raise a host of questions about possible revisions in the basic tenets of psychoanalysis as a general psychology and about reconsideration of established concepts in theories of therapy. For example, the term "dyadic transference," derived from the developmental concept of object relations, makes it necessary to clarify our views on the entire psychoanalytic theory of object relations, the classical concept of transference neurosis, and accepted technical approaches to interpretation and working through.
Clower referred to the COPER Commission IX report in which the use of developmental concepts to expand classical theory and deepen analysis of adult neurotic patients is advocated. The suggestion that understanding both normal and pathological development might assist in the analysis of adult neurotic patients excited a great deal of interest, some controversy, and much discussion. Analysts were confronted with the fact that as yet there is no well-developed frame of reference within which a degree of structural deficit can be identified and dealt with in the transference neurosis of a neurotic adult. At this time, we have no substantial body of clinical experience demonstrating the use of developmental concepts in analyzing adults.