^aDepartment of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, The Open University, Gardiner 1, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. E-mail: p.redman@open.ac.uk

Abstract

This paper explores the concept of transference–countertransference arguing that it holds out the promise of an inherently relational understanding of the unconscious dimensions of affective, felt and emotional experience. This argument is contrasted to Ian Burkitt's multi-dimensional model of affect, feeling and emotion which rejects the notion that these have unconscious dimensions understood in psychoanalytic terms. The paper suggests that there may be more grounds for dialogue between these approaches than those that meet the eye and that, as such, transference–countertransference may be a useful resource in the current putative 'affective turn.'