COUNTERTRANSFERENCE AS THE THERAPISTS MENTAL ACTIVITY - EXPERIENCE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES AMONG PSYCHOANALYTICALLY ORIENTED PSYCHOLOGISTS

The Countertransference Rating Scale (CRS; Normandin & Bouchard, 1993) was used to compare the spontaneous written reactions-to two clinical vignettes-of beginning (less than 1 year) and experienced (10 years o r more) psychoanalytically oriented psychologists. The CRS distinguish es three major mental states: objective/rational countertransference i s a detached, nonparticipating, observing position; reactive countertr ansference is an unconscious defensive reaction, in which the therapis t is an unaware participant-subject; reflective countertransference is an aware, preconscious-conscious subjectively transparent participati ng state. Results indicate that beginning therapists were more reflect ive and that experienced therapists were more reactive. As for gender differences, female therapists were found to be more reflective, and m ale subjects were more objective/rational.