Chapter 15. Learning from Experience

1 The aim in making the choice L, H or K is to make one statement that is to the best of the analyst's belief true. It need not be a statement that accurately represents a realization of which it is the counterpart; the statement must seem to the analyst to be a true reflection of his feelings and one on which he can rely for a particularly important purpose, namely to act as a standard to which he can refer all the other statements that he proposes to make. If L is chosen then L expresses a quality with which he compares other qualities. L also expresses quantity and by this quantity the analyst will measure all the other quantities he expresses. That is to say, if he means by L that the two objects are linked by strong feelings of love he will not then use K for a casual tie such as might be expressed by an impatient “Yes, I know”. The choice of L or H or K is not determined by a need to represent fact but by the need to provide a key to the value of the other elements that are combined in the formalized statement. In psychoanalysis where a statement depends on other statements for its value the need for the recognition of such a key statement is pressing. It must be made clear that the analyst is basing the values of all the elements in his statement on the one statement. Theoretically I see no reason why he should not choose any element he likes for this purpose, but in practice much is to be said for choosing an element that has importance derived from other aspects of its position in the total statement. Obviously an element which has already such importance is more likely to support the burden that it must carry than one that has not. The L, H or K link is just such an element. When the analyst chooses his sign it must feel right and, it stands to reason, he must keep it constant. If by reference to it other elements seem to make the

statement incompatible with itself, the other elements and relationships must be brought into harmony and the L, H or K left