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International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, Volume 74, Part 5, 1993
This article proposes that for humour to be effective as a therapeutic intervention is psychoanalytic treatment, it must approximate an affect releasing and growth promoting interpretation. The presence and psychological significance of surprise, which is common to both wit and ‘good’ interpretations are taken as the point of departure and the importance of the psychoanalyst's spontaneity is discussed in relation to this. The author explains his opposition to the use of humour as a contrived communication: as a parameter aimed at reviving a dying analysis or as an attempt to resolve an impasse. In particular the dangers of countertransference acting out and the provision of transference gratifications are explored. Equal emphasis is placed on recommending that the analysis of a patient's humorous responses should not be neglected and how an analyst without humour may negatively affect the treatment process. The paper includes clinical vignettes which illustrate the constructive and creative use of humour in the analytic situation.
International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, Volume 74, Part 5, 1993
This paper describes ways in which patient-analyst interactions result in a unique creation in each psychoanalytic endeavour. The particular character of the analyst and analysand overlap in a manner that potentially influences both the depth and the limits of the analysis. Analysts, therefore, need to be alert to their impact on the analytic process. Three approaches for elucidating the analyst's role and its effect on the patient are described. Case examples illustrate the impeding effect of unrecognised similarities between patients and analysts. Once the analysts became aware of these similarities, there was a change in their behaviour, resulting in