Abstract

BORGOGNO, Franco. "Role reversal" and the framework of curative factors. Rev. bras. psicanál [online]. 2007, vol.41, n.4, pp. 142-151. ISSN 0486-641X.

Within a historical-clinical framework, in which the often conflicting binomial acting cure/talking cure is underlined, the author focuses on "role-reversal": a primitive inter-intrapsychic process, at the forefront in our practice, but not adequately theorized in our literature. The phenomenon of "role-reversal" is clinically presented and discussed in its two main aspects (the unconscious identification with the parents and with their psychic culture, and, therefore, the concomitant dissociation of the infant part of the self) through the presentation of analytical material regarding a schizoid-deprived patient. Furthermore, the author considers some of the reasons why analysts didn't explore this particular form of repetition, which is regularly re-enacted in the transference-countertransference dynamics in the analysis of patients who have experienced in their past a cumulative trauma, and the principal curative factors in the treatment of this kind of patients.

Keywords : Role-reversal; Transference-countertransference dynamics; Schizoid-deprived patients; Curative factors; Acting cure-talking cure.

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