title: Women and a changing society: implications for transference/countertransference.
abstract: The word feminism conveys a variety of definitions, attitudes, and behaviours in contemporary society. Thus, the psychotherapist must clarify the woman's definition of this term and examine personal knowledge regarding the changing roles of women and men. Three categories of factors are discussed that affect the woman's self-determination, creativity, cooperativeness in therapy and her decision about goals. These factors include female identity formation within the family, level of autonomy development, and transference/countertransference issues. Four case histories illustrate the complex interactions of these factors. The vignettes emphasize the crucial importance of the psychotherapeutic alliance in a changing society where conflict exists about appropriate ways to express authenticity.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D002648:Child; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003379:Countertransference; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012922:Social Change; D013240:Stereotyping; D014167:Transference, Psychology; D014933:Women's Rights