ABSTRACT
Let us reconsider the term activity in connection with its seeming alternative, passivity. I hope the discussions in Chapters 1 and 3 have convinced you that the surgeon, who certainly is active as he operates on an oblivious patient, is a poor analogue for the analyst interacting with his patient. I suggested that the midwife offers a more useful one. Both the midwife and the analyst participate actively in their respective helping processes. The midwife, who during a delivery stands by, expectantly observing events, is not at all passive.
