Interpretation in Wilfred Bion's Writings
Abstract
This chapter explores the shift from interpretation as explanation toward interpretation as an act of psychic containment and creative transformation. Wilfred Bion’s concepts of “alpha-function,” “reverie,” and “O” recast the analyst less as an expert decoder and more as a receptive partner, able to metabolize the patient’s undigested experience. The chapter discusses how Bion’s framework emphasizes shared dreaming, emotional presence, and the limits of interpretive knowledge.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Psychoanalysis and Social Critique
Jungian Analytical Psychology
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 46–71
- Publication date
- 3 March 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter