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A great deal of emphasis has been placed on studying the transference, especially in the analysis of resistances and in the service of the eventual resolution of neurotic conflict. No less important are the issues of countertransference. One of the key roots in the counter-transference experience is anchored in the sex of the patient.
Crowder2 finds that the therapists who are more successful with their patients (gain more positive changes in the MMPI) have fewer countertransference reactions. He specifies the countertransference reactions as “hostile-competitive,” “passive-resistant,” and “support-seeking” (instead of “supportive-interpretive”).
The other parameter he investigated is the effect of the patient on the therapy. The patient who doesn't make it, i.e. who shows the least change, tends to be at the beginning more passive-resistant, less support-seeking, and less hostile-competitive. The most difficult patients show the most transference and stimulate more counter-transference. For a therapist to be successful not only does he have to deal in a reasonable way with his “normal” countertransference feelings (Money-Kyrle9), but when the patient is difficult the therapist has to deal with a greater number or a greater intensity of countertrans-ferential reactions. Although it's not easy to parcel out countertransference into the three simple categories (passive-resistant, hostile-competitive, or support-seeking), as Crowder does, what is important is that a therapist who has more countertransference reactions is less likely to be successful. Also, more difficult patients are more likely to bring on these reactions. Thus patients who have a good deal of ego strength and can keep some controls on their transference are easier