Anonymity.

The ground rules of psychoanalysis define the nature and boundaries of the analyst-analysand relationship. This paper examines the classical tenet of the analyst's relative anonymity. Technical justifications for this precept, as well as the existing literature on the subject, are reviewed. The relevance of this ground rule in the context of psychoanalytic psychotherapy is explored. Potential sources of threat to the maintenance of appropriate anonymity are also discussed. Finally, two clinical examples in which there were modifications in the ground rule of anonymity are presented. Using a communicative perspective, the patient's unconscious reactions and perceptions regarding the therapist that emerged under such conditions are examined. The data support the conclusion that the far-reaching consequences of the manner in which the therapist establishes and sustains the ground rules of the therapeutic relationship usually have not been adequately appreciated.