Gehrie feels that psychoanalytic theory can become more useful through the understanding of anthropology, and in this article he seeks to bridge the gap between the two. In discussing the interface between these two areas of investigation, he cites a number of factors. One which has been neglected in the past pertains to the distinctions between fantasy and reality and between conscious and unconscious knowledge. Two other phenomena which may connect the two disciplines are empathy and countertransference. Perhaps the most cogent observation made in the article is the following: "We are, it seems, in the painful but promising stage of being forced to accommodate our method to our data, rather than taking the reverse route…" Although there has been progress in bringing these two fields together, there are still many obstacles to such a synthesis.