Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 3-4.djvu/40

 294 H. VON HUG-HELLMUTH

sired effect. The girl became strongly attached to me and came to me for advice about all matters which disturbed her, as to her 'second and real mother'.

Sometimes, in the case of those patients who obstinately shut themselves up, a ruse is helpful. For example, a nine year old boy with suicidal impulses, during the first hour took not the slightest notice of me, but simply laid his head on the table and made no response to any remark. A fly passing close to my face suggested to me the idea of pretending that I had got something in my eye. At once the boy, who always wished to be in the limehght, jumped up, saying: 'Please let me see, I will get it out; but you must not rub your eye.' Thus, with his proffered help the ice was broken, because he felt himself of use to me. Every time, after this, when a strong resistance made him retire into silence, I had only to ask for his advice or his help, and the ana- lysis once more progressed favourably.

A ruse, which, in my opinion, never fails, is to tell the young patient about the misdeeds of other children. As one has already been sufficiently informed by the parents about the misdemeanours and peculiarities of one's little patient, one need not be afraid of inciting the child, by such accounts of others, to similar naughti- ness which he has not indulged in up to the present. No child has so far been harmed either in a sexual, or any other way, by a properly-conducted analysis. Though a temporary increase in bad behaviour may lead the layman to such an idea, the analyst is able to appreciate it as a sign of progress.

The reaction of the child to this kind of beginning may be of three types. Often the patient reacts with a story of similar mis- deeds, which at first are described as having been done by another child, and only later on admitted as his own. Or secondly he may reply with a fierce denial: 'I have never done such things!' From the analysis of the grown-up, we are aware that such emphatic denials are tantamount to admissions. Thirdly, the child may accept the information with absolute indifference. Then we can scarcely be wrong in assuming that the parents have misunderstood some- thing in the behaviour of the child, or that behind the known facts something more is hidden.

When dealing with children of seven or eight years of age, the analyst can often pave the way by sharing in the play activi- ties, and thus he can recognise several symptoms, peculiar habits,