1Freud used binding (and its opposites, freedom or mobility of cathexis) in over a dozen different ways as his theory developed. The major usages are: (a) to describe the inhibition and delay of discharge, the diminution of peremptoriness; (b) to describe the close union of cathexis and mental presentation; (c) to describe the building of structures.

2Any discussion of binding and mobility must distinguish two kinds of energy: that of the instinctual drives (of whatever degree of neutralization) or drive cathexis, and neutral energy (hypercathexis). One can make this distinction without taking a stand on the question whether neutral energy is wholly, partly, or not at all derived from drive energy.