“The word “reciprocal” is used here as it is used in mathematics. In mathematics, we know that every number is reciprocal. The reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2. The reciprocal of 5 is 1/5. To find the reciprocal , one has to turn a whole number into a fraction or into a fractional notation at least; in other words, into a double term. Reciprocality can exist only when two terms exist. When one multiplies two reciprocals, the product is always one. I think that is psychologically significant.

The psychological Reciprocality Principle is that the unconscious responds inversely to the conscious ego. The ego’s relation to any particular psychological quality or content can be expressed in a fractional term, and then according to the Reciprocality Principle, the unconscious manifestation of that quality will be a reciprocal of the conscious manifestation. For example, let us say we are dealing with the quality of aggressiveness on a scale of ten. At zero, one would be a total victim, a total quivering, knee-shaking, fleeing victim. At the other end of the scale one would be a total aggressor - chasing, attacking. Now let us say that our particular ego is very much in the victim realm, with an aggressiveness fraction of only 2/10. By the Reciprocality Principle then, the unconscious will have an aggressiveness fraction of 10/2.

In other words, if the ego is very much identified with being the victim, the unconscious will have the aggressor constellated in it and will start chasing the ego. The ego, of course, will be running. We all know from observing animals that if one animal runs, a cat for example, a dog will chase it. If the cat stops running and turns around, the dog suddenly stops and the dog might start running. This illustrates how the unconscious can work. The principle holds true not only within the individual, but in the individual’s relationship with the environment. If a speaker behaves like a weak, fearful victim at the lectern, it will not be long before the whole audience will be after him.

This is the way the unconscious works and this is the way the transference and countertransference work. So with a patient who is very much identified with the victim role, no matter how mild-mannered and gentle the analyst may think he or she is, the alter analyst will catch him- or herself bullying the patient because that is what is constellated. This principle works with all sorts of other qualities too…The task is to reverse those reciprocal fractions…This is not so easy to do, but it is useful to know what is going on at least, and I think the Reciprocality Principle is helpful there.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5777311&forum_id=2#49282116)