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Rothstein has stimulated all analysts to rethink how we can better commit ourselves to our analytic work. In this paper I focus on factors in analysts' personalities and experiences in their training and practice that contribute to or distract from establishing an analytic identity.
First, I explore analysts' background and motivation. In admissions to psychoanalytic institutes we look for candidates who can see psychoanalysis as an intellectual puzzle to be solved and an emotional involvement to be experienced. We look for early conflicts that the candidate can sublimate in the service of analytic functioning. We assume that the capacity to sublimate is only partial and that analysts in their development continue to recognize conflicts in transference–countertransference reactions.
Second, I give some examples of experiences from analysts' training that stimulate the formation of their analytic identities. These include transient identifications and counter-identifications with the training analyst, supervisor, seminar leader, and favorite analytic authors.
Third, I discuss more external factors that influence the development of analytic identity. These include the climate in
Dr. Skolnikoff is Training and Supervising Analyst, San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute; Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco.
training and continuing education at the institute. How much does the institute support its members in immersion in psychoanalysis? Economic factors continue to be an important factor in determining individual choice in this immersion.
Finally, I review studies on the effectiveness of psychoanalysis. Dedicated analysts with considerable experience believe that analysis works despite some limitations. Part of high motivation to continue analytic work includes understanding how analytic results differ from the simpler solutions achieved by nonanalytic therapies.