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Related Experiment Videos

Playing and working through: a neglected analogy.

Eugene J Mahon1

  • 1Ejmahon@aol.com

The Psychoanalytic Quarterly
|April 28, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Psychoanalytic play is explored as a method for uncovering unconscious fantasies. This process involves using real objects, similar to play, to test and work through these fantasies in therapy.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychoanalysis
  • Psychology
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Psychoanalysis involves uncovering and scrutinizing unconscious fantasies.
  • Freud noted play is similar to fantasy, differing in its use of real objects.
  • This study explores the parallels between play and the psychoanalytic process of working through.

Observation:

  • Patients in psychoanalysis may attach unconscious fantasies to tangible objects within the therapeutic setting.
  • Examples include using items like a Kleenex box as a focal point for fantasy exploration.
  • This attachment to real objects mirrors the way children use toys in play.

Findings:

  • Play functions not only as a vehicle for fantasy but also as a testing ground for it.
  • The process of working through in psychoanalysis can manifest through the use of real-world props.
  • This creates a tangible analogy to the symbolic and interactive nature of childhood play.

Implications:

  • Understanding play as a fantasy tester offers new insights into the psychoanalytic working-through process.
  • The use of objects in therapy can enhance the exploration and resolution of unconscious conflicts.
  • This perspective enriches psychoanalytic theory and clinical practice by integrating play-based concepts.

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