This, I said, was probably a compac

This, I said, was probably a compact description of the treatmenthe was having from me, treatment of which he doubted the efficacy.My interpretations were felt by him to be vague complaints to which he paid scant attention; his associations were many of them staleassociations employed more for the soporific effect they shared withamytal than for their informative value, and designed to keep meemployed without bothering him. But, I added, we should also consider how this situation was rendered tolerable for himself; I drewhis attention to peculiarities in his behaviour, notably the rhythm of‘association–interpretation association’, which indicated that I was atwin of himself who supported him in a jocular evasion of my complaints and thus softened his resentment. He could identify himselfwith any one of the three roles.