The working identity of the psychoanalyst. Toward a theory of psychoanalytic professionalism

In this article the professional activity of the psychoanalyst is discussed as a crucial feature of his/her working identity. After an outline of the problems posed by the concept of identity, the author sketches a theory of socialization and professionalism in which the activity of the psychoanalys t is seen as being subject to requirements and forces pulling in two differ ent directions. On the one hand, the psychoanalytic process is an exercise in relation-building geared to the repetition of primary socialization expe rience; on the other, it is an exercise in the application of scientific ru les. The author discusses the consequences of this dialectic for the analyt ic situation and the professional organization of psychoanalytic activity.