The Interpretive Attitude

Abstract

From its start, psychoanalysis took as its primary goal the gaining of insight, and the analyst's interpretations as its primary technique for achieving that goal. Multiple factors, including the destructive impact of wild analysis and a growing appreciation of noninterpretive analytic functions, have brought those first principles into question. The author posits a conceptual division of the analyst's interpretive functions into declarative interpretations (content) and a procedural interpretive attitude (underlying process). The interpretive attitude is presented as crucial and central to psychoanalytic work, relevant and effective even when matters touching on preverbal issues are addressed. © 2002, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.