ABSTRACT
The flow of the analytic encounter is often defined by elements of projective identification. Modern Kleinian technique acknowledges the importance of how projective identification unfolds within interpersonal, inter-actional, and intra-psychic realms. Betty Joseph underscores the importance of counter-transference and the patient’s blatant or subtle interpersonal invitations to become part of their projective phantasy cycles of self and object. This chapter proposes the idea that in most treatments, there is a strong projective identification-based transference in which these various unconscious self-subject relationships are brought to life in the clinical setting. In a successful treatment, there will be a gradual evolution of the patient’s projective identification process as their phantasies and conflicts change and become resolved. Certain sadomasochistic transferences are forcibly projected into the analytic relationship to prevent the knowledge of other aspects of the patient that are more threatening. Projective identification becomes a primary weapon in this scorched earth policy.
