PROJECTIVE IDENTIFICATION AND PSYCHOANALY TIC INFERENCE

Psychoanalytic theorists frequently argued, that the transference-/cou ntertransference-concept should be extended to include aspects of nonv erbal and paraverbal communication. New terms have been coined and int roduced to the theory of psychoanalytic technique. The present authors maintain that such an extension is not needed. In their view the conc ept of projective identification is suitable to grasp these extra-verb al aspects of communication, provided this mechanism is seen as a form of archaic affective communication utilized mainly, but not exclusive ly, by severely disturbed patients.