[Fluctuations in the "evenly hovering attention" and their therapeutic processing]

For epistemological and empirical reasons, Freud's "evenly hovering attention" has to be understood as an advice that the analyst should remain open for new observation. It is a recommendation against having preconceived ideas and biases. In fact, the analyst's attention is regulated by conscious and unconscious selections. It is subject to considerable changes in the analyst's cognitive processes. His countertransference influences his attention. The patient in turn reacts consciously or unconsciously to the variations of the analyst's attention. It is therefore necessary to interpret those changes and sometimes to admit them. This recognition supports the reality testing of the patient in the analytic situation. Otherwise malign regressions or denials and other defensive processes might occur. We give an example of the changes in the "evenly hovering attention" of an analyst and their handling.