A self-psychological approach to the analysis of resistance: a case report

This paper attempts to explore the understanding of resistance from a self-psychological perspective through presenting a case report. This view is contrasted to the traditional psychoanalytic model which assumes that whatever impedes the analysis is a resistance, and construes such resistance in terms of the drive-defence model. The motivation for this blockade of the analysis is the protection of the ego from anxiety. By contrast, a self-psychological model suggests that 'so called defence-resistances' (Kohut, 1984, p. 141) are required for the protection of the weakened self. There is no blockade of the analytic process; rather, the 'resistance' safeguards the self so that the analysis may continue. The motivation for 'resistance' is to protect the self so that it will be ready to resume development when a safe, attuned selfobject environment is available. In the case presented the patient beseeched the analyst to refrain from speaking. The analyst's dilemma is discussed and the resolution of the resistance is described.