NEGATIVE ACTING IN

Little has been written on the analysand's failure to act in the sessi on when some form of motoric reaction or behavior seems appropriate an d expectable. This phenomenon is conceptualized as negative acting in. Several clinical vignettes are provided. The importance of analytic i nterventions at these moments of behavioral omission, the possible cou ntertransferential interferences, and the frequent use by the patient of rationalizations are commented on. The point is made that even thou gh the exploration of these nodal points does not always lead to the d iscernment of psychodynamics, it usually contributes to the fostering of ego-observing capacities. Detection of episodes of negative acting in may pose special difficulties for the analyst, since it requires th at attention be focused on events that do not take place, but their ex ploration is considered important for an analysis of the patient's psy chic life.