The Annual of Psychoanalysis. XVII, 1989: An Epistemology of Transference. John E. Gedo. Pp. 3-15.

Applying Heisenberg's insight into the effects of the observer on the phenomenon observed, Gedo argues that the behavior of the analyst affects the nature of the transference phenomena that the patient demonstrates. For example, the use of "classical" technique will tend to evoke a transference neurosis which is a repetition of the infantile neurosis; the use of the regression-promoting technique of Harold Searles will evoke "borderline psychotic" transferences; the use of self psychology techniques which stress empathic acceptance of the subjective point of view of the analysand will elicit "archaic" selfobject transferences. He advocates flexibility in the choice of technique for different patients, as well as for different stages within a given analysis. Gedo further states that the analyst's age, sex, sociocultural background, and language affect the nature of the transference that develops. He calls for careful scrutiny of the implications for conceptualizing psychopathology and character formation, because the development of the transference is co-determined by the analyst's technical convictions and personal characteristics.