Introduction

The three papers in this section were given at a meeting of the European Psychoanalytical Federation at Prague in 2002. They were part of an attempt to achieve greater clarity about the differences and agreements among European analysts on topics of mutual interest. Eike Wolff, the editor of the journal Psychoanalysis in Europe, introduced the topic of projective identification by saying:

In the last fifteen years, the term ‘projective identification’ has expanded at an inflationary rate and in some places has thrown concepts such as ‘transference’ and ‘transference neurosis’ into the background. Reflection on the various uses of the term in different European countries and analytical schools can strengthen the awareness of the advantages and the dangers involved in extensive habitual use of the concept.

At the conference Elizabeth Spillius briefly introduced the topic, followed by Helmut Hinz, who described the reception of the concept in Germany, Jorge Canestri of the Italian Association, who talked about the fate of the concept in Italy and Spain, and Jean-Michel Quinodoz of the Swiss Society, who described the response of French-speaking psychoanalysts to the concept. All four contributions were published in 2002 in Psychoanalysis in Europe: Bulletin 56 (Canestri, 2002; Hinz, 2002; J.-M. Quinodoz, 2002a; Spillius, 2002). The papers of Hinz and Canestri are reproduced here, followed by Quinodoz's 2003 version of his paper, somewhat revised for inclusion in the present book.