I've thought a pretty fair bit about this. I think the blog that was linked to on the last question about erotic transference - Behind the Couch - has a pretty interesting series of posts on transference, if they're not all password-locked these days.

I think the only useful definition I've heard of transference is when you react to a situation in a way that is not completely explainable by the situation. That is, if an alien were watching the exchange, your reaction to the situation, comment, remark etc. does not make _complete_ sense given _only_ the situation: in order to truly understand your response, we'd (the alien would) need to know your history in order to understand why you're reacting the way you are.

I think that's why they want therapists to have done therapy, so that they understand themselves well enough to know the difference between reactions to current situations and reactions to current situations that are influenced by previous interactions and histories.

I've also read a fair bit that says that it is completely and utterly impossible to "get rid of" transference: the goal for therapists is that they are aware of it and can factor it in to their understanding in order to react to the current situation appropriately. This, I imagine, is their goal for us as well.

[I think that much of many therapists' basic tasks in session is to react to only what's going on in-session, so that you (we) can see the difference between a reaction to what we're doing and what we expect based on previous interactions. I think that's why it's Extra-Bad when they _do_ react the way we expect them to based on previous interactions.]

So, I think my answer is...no? And also yes, both. :P

I don't think you can easily separate human nature and transference since it is human nature to transfer your experiences from past relationships onto present ones. It is kind of like a mental short cut so that every new relationship we form isn't completely new and mysterious. We can kind of "place" people in certain categories in order to make relating to them easier before we get to know them really well. In therapy you create an intense, intimate relationship with your T that isn't like any other you probably have had before but your brain is still trying to use this shortcut. Such intimacy with another person usually only occurs with one's parents or spouse so it seems very natural that our brains automatically try to put our T into one or both of these categories.

Since transference is human nature it is going to happen and some T's know this, expect it and are hopefully prepared to handle it well. If they haven't experienced it before it is likely because their clients are too afraid to tell them. Some schools of therapy know it happens but don't address it on purpose. Other schools encourage T's to use it to help the client. Unfortunately however, unless you have somehow been exposed to it you won't know to ask you T what they think about it during the initial appointment. Most likely you won't know until it has happened and now you are vulnerable and stuck. I seriously think people should be warned somehow about transference feelings at the start of therapy and not told anything until they have mustered up the strength and courage to ask.