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In the course of followup study of satisfactorily analyzed former patients, there are observed two sets of phenomena: (1) recurrence of the analytic transference neurosis, and (2) rapid recovery from this transference neurosis. These phenomena are telescoped repetitions of the analysis and reflect the ongoing mental representation of the analyst as a displacement from the objects of the past, organized into the transference neurosis. The spontaneous and rapid recovery from the transference neurosis in followup study repeats the “cure” of the analysis and the new ongoing representation of the analyst as a nonconflicted object. This new image of the analyst is based on both the resolution of the transference neurosis and new displacements from positive experiences with significant figures from the past.

Clinical material from an analysis is used to illustrate the thesis that memories of positive experiences with significant figures of the past, like pathogenic memories, are displaced onto the analyst in the transference. It is suggested that such positive memories with their associated impulses, affects, and content become available and significantly operative in connection with and in response to interpretation and working through of pathogenic conflicts, especially in the transference. Memories of positive experiences appear to play a role in the resolution of conflicts and in the consequent analytic and therapeutic changes. Thus, just as there are repetitions of conflicted and pathogenic experiences, "negative repetitions," there are repetitions of positive experiences, "positive repetitions."