The Transference Neurosis From the Viewpoint of Self Psychology

In the analysis of the self, kohut published perhaps the most extensive discussion of transference, and phenomena comparable to the transference neurosis, in the modern psychoanalytic literature. He wrote: “this monograph in its entirety deals with the specific transferences (or transferencelike structures) which are mobilized during the analysis of narcissistic personality disturbances …” (1971, p. 23). I believe that self psychology enlarges and enriches the concept of transference neurosis, and reaffirms its importance to psychoanalysis.

Before expanding on this thesis, I wish to review briefly Freud's development of the concept. It is remarkable that in the entire corpus of his work Freud uses the term “transference neurosis” only four times, first in “Remembering, Repeating, and Working Through” (1914, p. 154), twice in, “Beyond the Pleasure Principle” (1920), and for the final time in “The Question of Lay Analysis” (1926, p. 227). Freud does, however, use a number of synonyms for the term, especially in his Introductory Lectures (1916-1917), and in “Remembering, Repeating, and Working Through.” These include such terms as “transference illness,” “transformed neurosis,” artificial illness,” and “artificial neurosis.” In addition to using these synonyms Freud employs the term “new edition” in several places to refer to a description of the transference neurosis. In