The Reflexive Function of Psychoanalytic Interpretation

J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 2023 Dec;71(6):1107-1126. doi: 10.1177/00030651241235851.ABSTRACTThe act of interpretation in psychoanalysis has a distinct character due to the discursive structure of the psychoanalytic setting. The discourse that issues from the interplay of the fundamental rule and evenly suspended attention is a reflection on reflection. The result is that interpretation instead of being a device for inquiry is itself the object of inquiry. Psychoanalysis does not use interpretation. It is about interpretation itself. This perspective sheds a certain light on longstanding questions about the form and effects of psychoanalytic interpretation.PMID:38511897 | DOI:10.1177/00030651241235851

Source: Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association - March 21, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: David Lichtenstein Source Type: research