Projective identification: a concept overburdened.

The term projective identification has been broadened from its original meaning as set forth by Melanie Klein to include the interpersonal sphere. A review of the psychoanalytic literature on projective identification shows varying uses, definitional problems, and conceptual confusion and raises serious questions regarding the possibility of integrating intrapersonal and interpersonal models of the mind. Clinical material is presented to show that phenomena commonly described as projective identification are variable, complex patterns of behavior that are not well understood. The author concludes that the major definitional and conceptual difficulties with the term justify that its usage be limited. At the same time, the powerful clinical phenomena--the transference-countertransference interactions--described as projective identification cannot be ignored.