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The author reviews briefly the significance of historical data whether viewed as an actual event or an endopsychic experience of the event; the nature of the influence of repression and characterological change on memory; and the question of whether the validation of reconstructions of specific events is or is not of major importance in psychoanalysis.
Specifically, Novey considers when and under what circumstances such experiences and memories can be said to coincide with external reality. He then raises questions relative to the therapeutic process about the actuality of events in the patient's history. He concludes that, while such events can never be totally re-examined, a careful study of the available evidence gives useful hints as to the characterological nature, modes of defense and sources of emotional difficulty from which the patient suffers, and is important in determining the therapeutic approach. In attempting such reconstruction, the physician is guided partially by his intuition as well as by his particular point of view and interests as a therapist. Though there are limitations to the actual validation of historical events in the patient's life, where appropriate, every effort should be made to attempt such validation.