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Joseph Sandler1 has been one of the most creative figures in the past several decades in bringing about what Ogden (1992) has termed a ‘quiet revolution’ in psychoanalytic theory. His contributions form a coherent progression of thought on psychoanalysis and the analytic process, and he has been a formative influence on psychoanalysis during the latter part of this century. His accomplishments reflect an almost unique capacity to combine empirical research skills with the highest order of understanding of psychoanalytic theory. In a long series of extraordinary papers, one can observe the evolution of his thinking, from his more traditional frame of reference arising from his analytic training to his complex integration of ego psychology and object relations theory, which has become increasingly dominant.
This intellectual odyssey has been characterized by a consistent methodological effort to keep theory tied to clinical activity. While all of us have paid lip service to the intimate relationship of theory and practice, it was Sandler who used the Hampstead Psychoanalytic Index as the framework for researching how psychoanalytic concepts apply to the clinical situation, in contrast to what we expect them to mean. As a result, he initiated a series of redefinitions and reconceptualizations of some of the basic building blocks of psychoanalysis. His training as an experimental psychologist, statistically sophisticated and familiar with psychological tests and rating scales, gave him a fresh perspective on traditional concepts, and he supported and altered them on the basis of empirical research. His immersion in child development at the Anna Freud Centre also influenced his intellectual development.
Sandler’s earliest published works, preceding his analytic training, focused on psychological topics ranging from Rorschach studies to statistical analysis. After graduating from analytic training in 1952 at the age of twenty-five, he wrote his first analytic pa