Our Unconscious Relationship with Psychoanalytic Theory

Abstract

The author explores the role of the unconscious in relationship to psychoanalytic theory. Using clinical material, the author argues that we have an important bidirectional unconscious relationship with theory. Theory allows us to have experiences that contain important unconscious thinking, which in turn contributes to new understandings about theory. The author uses John Dewey’s concept of experience as a vehicle to elucidate how theory is used unconsciously.

Keywords:

• Unconscious
• theory
• psychoanalytic education
• potential
• Dewey

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gretchen A. Schmutz

Gretchen A. Schmutz is a faculty member of the Institute for Clinical Social Work teaching psychoanalytic theory and practice. She is a psychoanalyst and psychologist treating children, adolescents, and adults. The author wishes to thank the following people for their helpful editorial comments: Dr. Jay Greenberg and Dr. Lucy LaFarge, Editors, as well as the anonymous reviewers of The Psychoanalytic Quarterly. She also thanks Dr. Bruce Reis and Dr. Jonathan Sklar for their input.