Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) Practice Test

From a traditional psychoanalytic perspective, what is transference considered?

1. An impediment to therapy progress

2. A form of resistance

3. A form of catharsis

4. An ego defense mechanism

The correct answer is: A form of resistance

Transference is viewed as a fundamental concept in traditional psychoanalysis, where it refers to the process by which clients project feelings, desires, and expectations from past relationships onto the therapist. This phenomenon provides valuable insights into a client's unconscious mind and their relational patterns. From the psychoanalytic perspective, transference is considered a form of resistance because it can hinder the therapeutic process by manifesting the individual's unresolved conflicts and emotions. When clients transfer feelings from significant figures in their lives onto the therapist, it may lead to defensiveness or avoidance of core issues that need to be addressed in therapy. By recognizing and interpreting transference, therapists can help clients confront these underlying emotions and understand how their past experiences affect their current behavior and relationships. While transference is often associated with themes of resistance, it can also be related to other therapeutic aspects like catharsis, but its primary classification in traditional psychoanalysis remains as a form of resistance which serves to reveal and work through past relational dynamics.