ASYMMETRY AND MUTUALITY IN THE ANALYTIC R ELATIONSHIP - LESSONS TO BELEARNED FROM THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FREUD AND FERENCZI (REPRINTED FROM LE COQ HERON, VOL 125, PG 3, 1992)

Against the background of the controversy between Freud and Ferenczi o n the nature of the psychoanalytic relationship, Hoffer examines the p erennial issue of the way in which analysts come to terms with the war ring claims of asymmetry (Freud) and mutuality (Ferenczi) in analysis. While descerning an inherent tendency towards mutuality in the pychoa nalytic constellation, the author nevertheless calls for the upholding of asymmetry because the psychoanalytic relationship is not a relatio nship >>of the usual kind<<. The analyst, he contends, must sustain th e tension between mutuality and asymmetry and use this reflected tensi on as a therapeutic instrument for fathoming the patient's psychic rea lity.