(2007). Neuropsychoanalysis, 9:228-228 Review by: Peter Freed Analysts typically instruct novice analysands—and frequently must remind professionals—to free-associate. By this it is meant that the patient should be encouraged to allow one idea, thought, feeling, or perception to lead to another and that this second link in the chain should be verbalized. By following the chain wherever it leads, it is hoped that the outlines of unconscious beliefs, fears, and fantasies may become visible and eventually allow the patient greater control over his/her mind, and ostensibly greater happiness. Of course, free association is something of a holy grail: aimed for, but rarely achieved. The conventional interpretation of failures of free association is that the patient—who, for example, demonstrates a dearth of connected ideas—is inhibiting or repressing or voluntarily filtering his/her associated ideas. Dynamic interpretations of failures of association are therefore possible. In contrast, it is not at all conventiona [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
