A note on transference and alliance: II. Patterns of interaction

Conceptual and pragmatic difficulties are encountered in relating and diffe rentiating transference from alliance. Transference and alliance, along wit h the real relationship, are component elements of the analytic relationshi p, and are mutually involved in intermingling and interaction at all points of the analytic process. Variants of transference, as discussed in a compa nion article (Meissner, 2001), are differentiated from and related to allia nce components and functions. Transference and alliance can interact in opp ositional terms, each undermining or obfuscating the other; an emphasis on alliance may subvert transference and, conversely, transference may act as one of the major sources of misalliance. They may also sustain and reinforc e each other; alliance often serves as a vehicle for providing a safe conte xt for emergence of difficult transference derivatives, and benign and mild forms of positive or idealizing transference can offer reinforcement to th e analytic relationship, and in some degree, to the alliance. Some forms of transference, especially selfobject transferences, may enjoy significant o verlap with alliance functions. Therapeutic implications and limits of thes e differentiations are considered.