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This paper examines how an analyst's conscious or unconscious overreliance on established psychoanalytic theory can lead to »concretization« in the analytic field. Such concretization impedes the emergence of realizations and hinders attunement to the patient's lived emotional experience. The author describes how, in normal mental development, one observes oscillations between concrete and metaphorical thinking—paralleling the interplay between the paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions in the Kleinian model. The author argues that pathological concrete thinking, often stemming from a protective response to sensory and emotional overwhelm, impedes a co-dreaming atmosphere within the analytic group of two. This paper explores the tension between adhering to established psychoanalytic theories and maintaining openness to phenomena emerging within the therapeutic encounter. This tension raises critical questions about the impact of theoretical frameworks on clinical practice, particularly when such frameworks are un/consciously or rigidly applied in overly prescriptive ways. These tendencies can stifle the analyst's ability to observe and facilitate evolving transformations in the analytic field. Clinical examples illustrate how an excessive »respect for order« can prevent realizations from surfacing. However, recognizing this dynamic can help mitigate pathological concretization when it occurs. The author advocates for striking a balance between the stability provided by psychoanalytic theories and the flexibility required to engage with the fluid and dynamic nature of psychical realities.
The full text is available in German.