What is Transference?
The Laundress, Painting by Honoré Daumier, 1863
Transference is an important concept which describes the unconscious redirection of feelings from past relationships onto people in the present, particularly within the therapeutic relationship. Clients may project unresolved emotions from early experiences, which often involve caregivers or parents, onto their therapist by treating the therapist as if they were that earlier figure. For example, someone who felt neglected by a parent may unconsciously perceive their therapist as similarly neglectful, even when the therapist is supportive. This is usually not deliberate but deeply rooted in the unconscious mind and is considered a major concept in psychoanalytic therapy for uncovering and working through unresolved emotional conflicts.
Sigmund Freud first introduced the concept of transference in the 1890s, viewing it as a necessary and inevitable part of psychoanalysis. Freud believed that transference originates in early childhood, particularly in the child's primary bond with their mother. As the client relives these early emotional experiences in the therapeutic setting, the therapist can guide them from “narcissistic transference,” where the therapist is seen as an extension of the self, to “object transference,” where the therapist is recognized as a separate person. This transformation allows for the examination of unconscious patterns, enabling clients to bring repressed emotions and repetitive relational behaviours into conscious awareness.
There are many forms of transference which include positive, negative, sexual, maternal, and paternal. Positive transference involves projecting admiration or affection, often helping to build a strong therapeutic alliance. Negative transference includes hostile or distrustful feelings, which can be challenging but insightful when explored carefully. Sexual transference involves romantic or erotic feelings toward the therapist, which must be navigated with ethical care. Maternal and paternal transferences specifically reflect the patient’s relationship with their parents and can be expressed as nurturing, critical, or even erotic, depending on the patient’s history. Each form reveals how early relational dynamics continue to influence the patient’s present interactions.
L’Angelus, Painting by Jean-Francois Millet, 1857-59
It would be beneficial for therapists or analysts to be familiar with signs of transference, especially when emotional reactions seem disproportionate to the therapeutic context. Understanding these patterns would require experience, supervision, and a strong therapeutic alliance. Once identified, the therapist can gently explore the patient’s emotional responses, helping them trace the origin of these feelings back to significant figures from their past. Freud emphasized the importance of maintaining therapeutic neutrality, using the patient’s transference to help them achieve insights rather than reinforcing these dynamics.
Carl Jung also offered a perspective of mutual connection and the symbolic space he called the “Temenos,” where both therapist and patient safely navigate unconscious material. He viewed transference as a shared process involving archetypal projections and advocated for therapists to undergo personal analysis to avoid mishandling their own unconscious responses, known as countertransference. Therefore, it is generally viewed that transference is a powerful tool which is essential to understanding and healing the emotional residue of past relationships.