Hi Riptide, I am not sure this helps but here is more information on transference and how the term came into use and its definition:

Psychology Definition: "The main characteristic (of transference) is the experience of feelings to a person which do not befit that person and which actually apply to another. Essentially, a person in the present is reacted to as though he were a person in the past. Transference is a repetition, a new edition of an old object relationship.... The person reacting with transference feelings is in the main unaware of the distortion."1

Metapsychology Definition: Transference is reacting to a person in the present as though he or she were a person in one's past.

The concept of transference originated with Freud and is commonly used in psychology and psychotherapy. Freud noticed that some patients reacted to him as though he were a parent and that female patients often tended to "fall in love" with him. Freud concluded that, during therapy sessions, patients were unconsciously transferring the feelings and attitudes they had had toward early significant figures in their lives onto the analyst. Initially, he just noted the phenomenon but did not comment on it within the therapy session. Later, he concluded that addressing the transferential relationship between analyst and patient was the curative factor in psychoanalysis, and made interpreting the transference the cornerstone of the theory and practice of psychoanalysis.

I think it helps to know the word's definition and orgin and how it is suppose to be viewed. In further reading it can be used to define a relation between parent and child in any relationship however, I think by and large it is mainly used in therapy. I know in my own, my therapy views it as necessary and it is his duty to keep it safe and appropriate. He said initially that it was vital to trust as well. I am not sure I am there yet in either case but I am am doing better with him so maybe i have a slight case.

I do agree that it is ever changing. To fit how therapy and the progress being made

I hope this helps


fragmented