Transference is a phenomenon in psychology characterized by unconscious redirection of feelings of one person to another. For instance, one could mistrust somebody who resembles an ex-spouse in manners, voice or external appearance; or be overly compliant to someone who resembles a childhood friend.

In a therapy context, transference refers to redirection of a client's feelings from a significant person to a therapist. Counter-transference is defined as redirection of a therapist's feelings toward a client, or more generally as a therapist's emotional entanglement with a client.

Transference was first described by Freud, who acknowledged its importance for psychoanalysis for better understanding of the patient's feelings. Transference is often manifested as an erotic attraction towards a therapist. It's also common for people to transfer feelings from their parents to their partners (emotional incest) or to children (cross-generational entanglements).

Although transference is often characterized as a useful tool for building trust between a client and a therapist, transference can also interfere with a therapist’s ability to help a client. Some therapists become confused between clients and intimate partners.

In The Psychology of the Transference, Carl Jung states that within the transference dyad both participants typically experience a variety of opposites, that in love and in psychological growth, the key to success is the ability to endure the tension of the opposites without abandoning the process, and that this tension allows one to grow and to transform.Jung, Carl C. The Psychology of the Transference, Princeton University Press, ISBN 0-691-0175-22

Transference is common. Only in a personally or socially harmful context can transference be described as a pathological issue. There is, however, an experimental new theory of transference known as AMT (Abusive Multiple Transference), put forth by David W. Bernstein, in which the abuser not only transfers negative feelings directed towards their abuser to the victim, but also transfers the power and dominance of their own abuser to themselves.

This kind of transference is sometimess part of the psychological makeup of murderers -- for example the serial killer Carroll Cole. While his father was away in WWII, Cole's mother engaged in several extra-marital affairs, forcing Cole to watch, and later beat him to ensure that he would not alert his father. Cole would later come to murder many women whom he considered "loose", and those in general who reminded him of his mother. AMT also ties in very closely with Power/Control Killers, as the feeling and view of control is passed from one abuser to those proceeding him or her.

Transference חליפין

In Physical and Spiritual laws there is a principle called "transference" - "קנין חליפין","Haleepin",( This term was understood fully and introduced into the modern day Medical profession by Professor Dr Carl Jung in Psychology). In simple terms, when you go into a shop and buy an apple you give the money in one hand and receive an apple. You have made a transfer, exchanging your money energy for the shops physical item "apple". Which when you eat the apple, its energy will make you feel good, alive and happy with yourself and the world. You may then meet someone and because you feel happy, will also make them feel happy and take away some of their sad feeling. The whole of society and mankind is continually acting in a web of transference and interaction of energy.

Have you ever, suddenly, found your mood change from being all loving and peaceful, and out-of-character you become angry? The explanation is simple, by "transference", someone you have just connected with, (it could even be the car infront or behind you in a traffic jam, or someone in the street who has so much inner frustration, anger or depression etc), has swapped, dumped and transfered their negative thoughts and emotional energy in an act of "transference" - exchanged for your loving, energising and positive energy.

Spiritual and Physical Transference חליפין is "An exchange of thought energy"

Sefer Shinuyim - Book of Changes teaches the spiritual laws of "transference" and how to prevent a "LOSS of your souls energy by transference". By learning how to be "closed" will prevent any loss by transference especially relevant for Sensitive souls who are susceptable to having energy stolen from them by "transference".

See also

• projection

References