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The analyses of patients who came with minimal or quickly relieved neurotic symptoms but who complained of unsatisfactory capacity for love and enjoyment shewed that they feared the excitements of pleasure and did not therefore dare to enjoy themselves. Investigation led back in each case to situations of the following type: over (or under) stimulation of the differing sexuality of the child by the sexual needs (or inhibitions) of an adult, consequent efforts on the child's part to gain sexual satisfaction, followed by repulse and a severe lecture by the adult. The result was secrecy and terror of sexual excitations in the presence of others. The passive unstimulating and unstimulated attitude of the analyst alone gives the possibility of repetition of such situations in the transference before revival of the memory of them. It is important that the patient can now himself determine the quality of excitation in contrast with the original incidents. 'Active' technique and the offering of advice therefore both fail, though Dr. Bálint mentions, without particularizing, revisions of passive technique which help to bring about catharsis of intense affects, memories, and the 'fresh beginning' of learning to love guilelessly and unconditionally like a child.
From his investigation of such cases Dr. Bálint envisages character (not the faults of character) as originating in anxiety and the fear of punishment, and as a more or less extensive limitation of capacity for love and enjoyment as well as of hate.