A few reflections on how we may approach the unconscious

Abstract

This paper inquires into the method of psychoanalysis, i.e., the way one, in psychoanalysis, investigates the unconscious. The author emphasizes that the basic instrument in this investigation is the analysand's self-observation. Accordingly, the goal of psychoanalysis is viewed as the enhancement of the analysand's ability to observe himself (and, thus, the facilitation of the internal flow of information), and that all other goals are secondary to this one. In this context, the author mainly discusses the instrument of interpretation. It is found that many psychoanalysts today seem to disregard this instrument's function of helping the analysand to see for himself what there is to be observed in his own psyche. The author makes a distinction between helping the analysand acquire the ability to make observations and the making of observations in themselves, draws some inferences from this, and discusses various difficulties in keeping to the mentioned basic goal of psychoanalysis.

Keywords:

• unconscious
• self-observation
• interpretation