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The decisive influence of unconscious forces on memory and the distortion of ideas and behavior because of desire are among the original psychoanalytic tenets and are basic to any psychology which lays claim to being dynamic. As I understand Dr. Bion's article, he urges that the analyst neither remember what has transpired before nor think of where the patient's productions may lead, because to do so would interfere with the analysis. I must say that Dr. Bion's thesis is, at best, illogical.
I agree that formulations and interpretations during a session should be based upon the patient's associations during that hour. Attention to and objective evaluation of what is said and done in a single hour is essential to proper analysis. One should not be influenced by preconceived ideas, cliches, or wishes. One should be careful not to “hear” only what is wished to be heard. Similarly, with remembering.
In this connection, Dr. Bion's recommendation that an analyst should have as thorough an analysis as is possible is axiomatic, but a poorly analyzed analyst, an analyst with countertransference problems, or an analyst with fixed notions for whatever reasons, will do poorly no matter what he remembers or blocks out. For similar reasons, such an analyst may have expectations for the future course of the analysis based upon his own psychopathology rather than through an understanding of his patient.
If by “every session must have no history and no future,” Dr. Bion means the analyst should not remain rigid in his opinions regarding previously formulated psychodynamics, I agree. However, this is so elementary, I must
conclude that Dr. Bion means something more and quite different.
What is already known about a patient is of further consequence. Are we not to remember a patient's fantasy related earlier? If a patient in a single hour talks of the present only, should we not remember that he has been doing so for several hours? If the patient compliments the analyst, should we not