ABSTRACT
Silence is ubiquitous in human dialogue and is bound to make its appearance in the analytic exchange as well. This chapter begins by delineating eight types of silences along with a “translation” of the drive-based and object-related scenarios associated with each of them. These include structural silence, unmentalised silence, defensive silence, enactive silence, symbolic silence, contemplative silence, regenerative silence, and blank silence. The chapter provides a brief foray into the sociocultural realm and elucidates a variety of silences encountered in that context. It highlights the various functions of the patient’s silence and the technical strategies helpful to deal with them. The chapter discusses the positive and negative impact of the analyst’s silence upon the clinical process. It also discusses the concept of “mutual silence” during clinical work. The chapter concludes by raising questions about aspects of silence. The silence of an empathic, attentive, listening analyst helps the patient to tolerate the abstinence created by and necessary for the analytic process.
