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The positive and negative therapeutic reactions are in essence the same; they are therapeutic reactions intended to take attention away from psychoanalysis. Like the insistence on ‘cure’ as an objective for taking up analysis, they are objectives for continuing or stopping; they are ‘covers’, rationalizations, ‘reasons’ operating in a role as slave to … what? The passions? Or some unknown such as hatred of doubt?
When a small attendance at a meeting is deplored, it is explained that had the complainant been in charge, how much better the result would have been; when he is one of the absentees, how good his reason for absence was. These are ‘therapeutic’ explanations; they heal the traumata of decision. But decision is an essential of ‘achievement’ or the transformation of thought into action – be it thought as a substitute for, or a prelude to, action.
Murderous, sadistic, ‘malign’ hate seems to be devoid of insight and to provoke a corresponding lack of insight – or unwillingness to use it – in myself; a ‘damned-if-I'll-give-an-interpretation’ feeling. Why should I give him an interpretation without being given what I call ‘evidence’?
I feel a deep lethargy. I cannot see my way, and when I cannot see my way I feel no disposition to act as if I could, or in a way that would give substance to a reassuring phantasy that I could. I do not know. Now does anyone else. It is absurdly simple really – unless one wants to complicate it. When there is nothing to do – don't do it!