Abstract
This paper focuses on a particular counter-transference process—introjective identification and the evocation it enables. Introjective identification enables evocation because it engages the analyst’s radical openness to the experience of the patient at the most primordial level. The accumulated wisdom of Ferenczi and those who followed him is used to discuss the role of introjective identification in the treatment of patients with non-neurotic structures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bion, W. R. (1962). Learning from Experience. In W. R. Bion (2014) The Complete Works of W.R. Bion, C. Mawson & F. Bion (Eds.), (Vol. IV, pp. 247–365). London: Karnac.
Bion, W. R. (1970). Attention and Interpretation: A Scientific Approach to Insight in Psycho-Analysis and Groups. In W. R. Bion (2014) The Complete Works of W.R. Bion, C. Mawson & F. Bion (Eds.), (Vol. VI, pp. 211–330). London: Karnac.
Bion, W. R. (1978). A Paris Seminar. In W. R. Bion (2014) The Complete Works of W.R. Bion, C. Mawson & F. Bion (Eds.), (Vol. IX, pp. 198–211). London: Karnac.
Deutsch, H. (1964). Some Clinical Considerations of the Ego Ideal. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 12, 512–516.
Eekhoff, J. K. (2013). Infantile Trauma, Therapeutic Impasses and Recovery. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 73, 353–369.
Eekhoff, J. K. (2015). The Silent Transference: Clinical Reflections on Ferenczi, Klein, and Bion. Canadian Journal of Psychoanalysis, 23, 57–73.
Ferenczi, S. (1928). The elasticity of psychoanalytical technique. In Final contribution to the problems and methods of psychoanalysis (pp. 87–101). London: Karnac Books. 1994.
Ferenczi, S. (1932). The clinical diary of Sándor Ferenczi. J. Dupont, (Ed.); M. Balint & N. Z. Jackson, Trans. Cambridge, MA & London: Harvard University Press. 1988.
Ferenczi, S. (1933). Confusion of Tongues between the Adults and the Child. The Language of Tenderness and of Passion. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 30, 225–230, Published in 1949. Also in Final contribution to the problems and methods of psychoanalysis (pp. 156–167). London: Karnac Books. 1994.
Grotstein, J. (2009). “…But at the Same Time, and on a Different Level…” Clinical Applications in the Kleinian/Bionian mode. London: Karnac Books.
Klein, M. (1937). Love, guilt and reparation. In Love, guilt and reparation (pp. 306–343). London: Hogarth Press. 1975.
Klein, M. (1944). Early object love. In P. King & R. Steiner, Eds. The Freud-Klein controversies 1941–1945 (pp. 755–757). London: Tavistock/Routledge. 1991.
Klein, M. (1948). The theory of anxiety and guilt. In Envy and gratitude (pp. 25–42). London: Hogarth Press. 1975.
Meltzer, D. (1974). Adhesive Identification. In Sincerity and Other Works (pp. 335–350). London: Karnac Books.
Meltzer, D. (1975). Chapter IX: Dimensionality as a parameter of mental functioning: Its relation to narcissistic organization. Explorations in Autism: A Psycho-Analytical Study (pp. 223–238). London: Karnac.
Scarfone, D. (2011). Live Wires: When is the Analyst at Work? International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 92, 755–759.
Scarfone, D, (2015) The Unpast. The Unconscious in Translation: New York.
Tustin, F. (1987). Autistic Barriers in Neurotic Patients. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Winnicott, D. W. (1974). Fear of Breakdown. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 1, 103–107.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Address correspondence to Dr. Judy K, Eekhoff, 1708 31st Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144, USA.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eekhoff, J.K. Introjective identification: the analytic work of evocation* . Am J Psychoanal 76, 354–361 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1057/s11231-016-9048-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s11231-016-9048-3