Transfer

The human mind is a complex network of emotions, memories and experiences that mold our way of perceiving the world and relating to others. In psychology, one of the most interesting phenomena that illustrate this connection between the past and the present is the transfer, a key concept in psychoanalytic therapy that explains how we relive feelings and attitudes of experiences past in our current relationships.

What is the transfer in psychology?

The term transfer refers to the phenomenon in which a person projects feelings, expectations or behavior patterns acquired in past relationships on someone in the present. This idea was developed by Sigmund Freud in the framework of psychoanalysis, who initially observed it in his patients by noticing that they transferred emotions and unconscious conflicts towards the therapist.

For example, a person who had a conflicting relationship with his father can, without realizing, treating his boss with the same hostility or submission he felt towards his father figure. In this case, the relationship with the boss is not the real cause of behavior, but the transfer of unresolved emotions of the past.

Types of transfer

There are different ways in which the transfer can manifest, depending on the nature of the projected feelings.

1. Positive transfer: It occurs when a person projects feelings of admiration, affection or trust towards another person due to previous experiences. In therapy, this can make the patient see the therapist as a protective or idealized figure.

2. Negative transfer: It occurs when the person transfers emotions of rejection, anger or distrust of someone who has done nothing to provoke them. In therapy, this can generate resistance to treatment if the patient associates the therapist with an authoritarian or critical figure of his past.

3. Erotic transfer: It occurs when a patient develops romantic or sexual feelings towards their therapist, which can interfere with the therapeutic process if it is not properly handled.

4. Paternal or maternal transfer: It implies seeing in another person a parental figure, which can generate a relationship based on dependence, rebellion or the search for approval.

The transfer in psychological therapy

In the clinical field, transfer is a fundamental tool to understand the emotional world of the patient. Freud considered it an opportunity to revive and analyze internal conflicts that would otherwise remain unconscious.

Therapists can identify transfer patterns in their patients and use them to help them recognize how their past experiences affect their present relationships. For example, if a person feels that his therapist is judging her in the same way as a critical father, the therapist can explore how this perception influences his self -esteem and his way of relating to others.

In addition, the transfer not only occurs in the patient, but also in the therapist, a phenomenon known as countertransference. This happens when the therapist responds emotionally to the patient in a way influenced by his own personal history. Proper countertransference management is crucial to maintaining objectivity in treatment.

Transfer in everyday life

Although the concept of transfer originated in psychoanalysis, its impact is not limited to therapy. In everyday life, many of our emotional reactions towards others can be the product of the transfer.

For example:

• A person who had a relationship with an unfaithful couple can automatically distrust a new sentimental partner, although there are no objective reasons for it.

• Someone who was constantly criticized by a teacher in childhood may feel anxiety to interact with authority figures, such as bosses or mentors.

• A child who grew up with an affectionate and comprehensive father can transfer those same feelings of trust to his friends or couples in adulthood.

Recognizing these transfer patterns can help us better understand our emotions and improve our interpersonal relationships.

The transfer is a psychological phenomenon that demonstrates how our past experiences continue to influence our way of seeing and treating others. In therapy, its analysis allows exploring unconscious conflicts and transforming dysfunctional relationship patterns. In everyday life, understanding the transfer helps us to be more aware of our reactions and to build healthier and more authentic relationships.

In the end, the key is to learn to differentiate when we are responding to the present and when we are reliving emotions of the past, in order to prevent our previous experiences from dictating our future.