Pierre Janet and Dissociation: The First Transference Theory and Its Origins in Hypnosis

Abstract

This paper describes Pierre Janet's pioneering work in the area of hypnosis which was based on suggestion and dissociation. Janet was the first to describe somnambulism as a phenomenon whereby two or more states of consciousness are dissociated by a cleft of amnesia and seem to operate independently of one another. Janet's early understanding of rapport also had roots in dissociation in that the patient seemed unable, due to dissociative restriction of the conscious field, to perceive anyone other than his own therapist. The implications of this dissociated conscious field for treatment led Janet to provide structure in therapy by assigning tasks and to mirror the patient's experience rather than to confront it. These techniques are important even today in the treatment of dissociated states.