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It is suggested that the psychoanalyst's cognitive process takes place in three positions which are distinguished by specific ego configurations. The term 'ego configuration' is used to denote ego operations in which a particular ego function, or a set of closely linked ego functions, occupies the role of primacy analogous to drive primacy at the various developmental phases. The analyst's first position is that of participant observer, listening, and in this position his cognitive process is determined by the primacy of attention with its attending ego functions as described by Freud. His freely mobile attention enables the analyst to perceive the wide range of his patient's verbal and non-verbal expressions, from unintended clue to purposeful communication, and to respond to them with cognitive activities such as a silent 'running commentary', trial interpretations, biographical and predictive images and concepts concerning his patient. When the analyst changes over to his second position in which he becomes his patient's active partner, speaking, his ego configuration is determined by the primacy of those ego functions which are instrumental in establishing verbal rapport and transforming silent cognitive processes into spoken communications and trial into actual interpretations. The analyst's third cognitive position is outside his direct contact with his patient, in the interval between analytic sessions. His cognitive process concerns research into what has happened in the session (or sessions), and his ego configuration is under the primacy of the ego function of remembering facts, connections, meanings, etc., research and evaluation always needing to be checked by memory.