You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
Participant observation is a milestone in transcending the original construct of the mirror analyst and the illusion of therapeutic neutrality. Nevertheless, the model has some drawbacks that also deserve to be mentioned. The principle of participant observation contains an element of tautology since all observation includes the observer in what he observes. Every act of observation brings about a modification in the object of the observation. Furthermore, we must appreciate the fact that participant observation is largely based on the element of consensual validation i.e., a system of checking and verification that can in some instances lead to a folie a deux between analyst and analysand. There are a number of rational and irrational components that emerge in the therapeutic alliance. One particular problem centers around the analyst's ability to cope with parataxic phenomena.
It may be useful to view participant observation as a fundamental breakthrough in defining aspects of the analyst's part in the psychoanalytic process. It does not matter that the model has some limitations as long as it is considered to be a viable stepping stone in transcending many aspects of prevailing analytic mystique.