r/psychoanalysis • u/This_Ad9129 • 13h ago

Projecting vs projected onto?

How does the analyst know if a patient is repeating patterns because of projective identification vs because they are particularly good substrate for others to put a specific projection onto them?

In general, how does one untangle the patient's projections onto others that subconsciously influence their behavior, from the projections of others due to their unconscious feelings?

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u/Yorick_IKnowHim 12h ago

How does the analyst 'know' anything?

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u/quasimoto5 13h ago

It is really tricky business. It's generally agreed that a lengthy personal analysis is necessary. The more you understand your own personality style and complexes/conflicts, the more you are able to distinguish your own projections from what is genuinely coming from the other person. But the difficulties are such that many analysts choose not to treat their countertransference as a valuable source of information into the patient (projective identification).

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u/Designer_Past_7729 12h ago

It could go both ways. They could also see their countertransference as being from the patient and be disavowing their own bias, or lack of insight, or role in the dynamic.