ABSTRACT
The concept of projective identification is a psychoanalytic gift to those trying to understand the unconscious dynamics of a couple relationship. It is a clinically and theoretically rich concept that has been elaborated extensively since it was first articulated by Melanie Klein in 1946. For Klein, projective identification was a defence, an unconscious phantasy, and an intrapsychic process. For Bion's development of the concept, he suggested retaining the term projective identification as a process describing the unconscious phantasy implementing the non-lexical aspects of language and behaviour, aimed at communication rather than action. The more at war with himself an individual is, the more of himself he may project, and the more dependent he may become on the container of his projections. It is also interesting to note that in couple relationships, a projected aspect that was originally attributive can become acquisitive, as the projected-into partner accepts the projection and takes over this aspect.
