Constant mental change and unknowability in psychoanalysis

Conflict and compromise formation are central aspects of mental life. They dispose to constant mental change. Limitations of knowability in psychoanal ysis are inextricably connected with constant mental change-the latter some times diminishing unknowability and sometimes exacerbating it. This paper e xplores three kinds of unknowability in psychoanalysis and their relation t o constant mental change. That relation clarifies to some degree the implic ations of certain controversial proposals for change in psychoanalytic theo ry, method, and technique.