A distinction was made between the organization of experience by self-enhancing as contrasted with self-maintaining principles. In psychotherapy as in natural growth, identification may serve either purpose. Defensive identification will interfere with the development of a sense of identity, whereas nondefensive identification is necessary for the development of a sense of identity. Since all psychopathology was seen as involving a deficit in identity development, psychotherapy must provide a new opportunity for its growth, including new and positive identification experiences. The implications of this for psychotherapeutic techniques were discussed.