Begegnung im Dienste des Begreifens

Starting with the question of why in certain instances acting out a counter-transference can lead to an “encounter in the service of comprehension” (Trimborn 1995), first Winnicott’s squiggle game in Gadamer’s (1960) sense is analyzed as an interpersonal hermeneutic circle. Then the effect and structure of recognition is clarified with sequences from Trimborn and Warsitz. This is done using Weiss and Simpson’s (1986) thought testing and Hegel’s concept of the fight for recognition in the form reworked by Honneth (1994). Finally, based on a case reported by Laimböck, the general significance of recognition in the analytical process is discussed. Recognition seems to be a cognitive and interactional moment of the analytical process that inexplicitly usually accompanies successful analysis, but when a narcissistic disorder is present it becomes the center of attention and important for successful analysis.