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If in any science an unified language is necessary for understanding and progress, then it is obivous that this is especially true in psychoanalysis. An unified terminology restricts misconception and saves superfluous efforts. For the re-verification of the truth of its concepts and for the progress of psychoanalysis the same tools must be used and the path traversed which has been marked out by the founders and experienced contributors. One receives the impression that the popularization which psychoanalysis has, unfortunately, undergone, has led away from this aim.
On reading “Activity in Analysis”the psychoanalyst thinks of what is called activity in the literature, i.e., he thinks of the active technique which is complementary to the principal one of passivity. Activity in analysis was introduced, about eight years ago, by Ferenczi and since then studied, extended and limited by him, Freud and a few others. The active technique refers to an interference in form of prohibition or suggestion in specifically indicated moments during the analysis. This interference is always an exception made for bridging over some persistent difficulty of resistance. The activity is only a temporary departure from the fundamental technique in psychoanalysis, that is passivity. Having given several contributions on this subject in which he, in and admirable way, studies his experiences and weighs indications and contra-indications for activity, Ferenczi, himself, again and again emphasize the point that passivity is the fundamental principle of analytic therapy. His work is worthy of being respected.
The experienced analyst can never cease to admire Freud's genius for his introduction of the passive anjjytic technique. When the practicing analyst— “passively”—allows the neurotic to re-live and assimilate his infantile as well as his later experiences on the level of the psychoanalytic situation, he is most actively helping his patient.
One might think that in speaking of active and pa