Use of the analyst as a fetish

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalytic Theory
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychotherapy Research

Background:

• Transference fantasies are central to psychoanalytic work.
• Difficulty in investigating these fantasies can lead to unproductive treatment.
• The concept of the analyst as a fetish offers insight into treatment impasses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the phenomenon of patients using their analyst as a fetish.
• To explore the cognitive patterns associated with this fetishistic use.
• To discuss the implications for clinical practice, including countertransference and termination.

Main Methods:

• Clinical case examples illustrating the phenomenon.
• Theoretical analysis of illusion and magical expectations in psychoanalysis.
• Exploration of countertransference reactions evoked by this dynamic.

Main Results:

• The analyst-as-fetish dynamic prevents the distinction between reality and fantasy.
• This leads to the persistence of magical expectations and avoidance of relinquishment.
• The phenomenon is present to varying degrees in most psychoanalytic treatments.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the analyst-as-fetish dynamic is crucial for effective psychoanalytic treatment.
• Addressing this can help overcome impasses and facilitate therapeutic progress.
• Special attention to termination is necessary when this dynamic is prominent.