Naturalistic Observation in Psychoanalysis

Abstract

The writer advocates a naturalistic approach to psychoanalysis. The Jane Goodall technique is an application of this approach in which the analyst studies the analysand as a naturalist would study and document the behavior of an animal species. The technique is particularly useful during difficult phases of treatment, and is sometimes quite powerful. Case material is presented showing how use of the technique can identify various forms of emotional induction used by analysands, the kinds of inductions which often produce countertransference reactions. Topics discussed include projective identification, supervision, and nature of psychoanalytic facts.