ABSTRACT
This book classifies the various defense mechanisms according to the specific anxiety situations and summarizes remarks by a number of clinical examples. These examples suggest that the typical situations in which the ego has recourse to the mechanism of denial are those associated with ideas of castration and with the loss of love objects. On the other hand, the altruistic surrender of instinctual impulses seems, under certain conditions, to be a specific means of overcoming narcissistic mortification. The translation of latent dream thoughts into the manifest dream content is carried out at the behest of the censor, that is, the representative of the ego in sleep. But the dream work itself is not performed by the ego. The existence of neurotic symptoms in itself indicates that the ego has been overpowered, and every return of repressed impulses, with its sequel in compromise formation, shows that some plan for defense has miscarried and the ego has suffered a defeat.
