Discussion

The value of understanding the role of conflict and compromise formation in mental life is nowhere more evident than in one's clinical work. Drs. Richards, Goldberger, and Rothstein have explained and illustrated their theses with many excellent clinical examples. They have considered the value of the concepts in question with respect to transference and countertransference, with respect to dreams, and with respect to narcissistic and masochistic disorders. The papers themselves were so clear and so persuasive that I can only echo their messages. The subjects discussed so far are sufficiently disparate as to offer real support for the argument that the concepts of conflict and compromise formation are of value in every aspect of clinical work, something that I firmly believe to be the case.

As Dr. Rothstein indicated, the concept of conflict and compromise formation gives one a framework for all of one's clinical efforts. It is a framework that greatly facilitates one's understanding of one's patients' problems and points the direction in which one's interpretations should go. It does this throughout the course of treatment, from the initial consultation to the last goodbye. It informs one about what to expect, what to be prepared for while listening to a patient, whoever the patient may be and whatever the patient's problems.

We may recall Freud's recommendation that one listen to every patient with evenly hovering attention. No preconceptions, no expectations about what's coming next, just your unconscious, your analytic instrument tuned to the unconscious of your patient (Freud, 1912, 1926). That is a prescription for the therapist's attitude that seems on the surface to be at odds with what I have just suggested about