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Each author contributes an account of a case of depersonalization (both female) and discusses the mechanisms involved. As a result of the striking points of agreement in the two cases, they come to the conclusion that the specific defence mechanism of depersonalization is the capture of the super-ego by the ego. The following is their own summarized account of the main processes, etc., involved: 'The libidinal instinctual wish of the id is predominantly that of anal exhibition' (stimulated either by an external incident or by an unconscious phantasy). 'The ego wards off this wish, and as a result appear anxiety and denial in the forms of a feeling of unreality, disturbances of the capacity for apprehension, doubts, intellectual uncertainty, attacks of despair, etc. A great part of the ego seeks to cajole the super-ego by placing itself at its disposal as "assistant police-officer" carrying out the duty of increased observation of the self and thus performing a kind of self-segmentation (autotomy).
'The normal function of the ego, observation of the self in the service of the super-ego, is increased to gigantic proportions, and the ego is slain with its own weapon. The rejected instinctual claim overpowers the ego