In trying to gain new light on the woman's object-choice, Dr. Rotter-Kertesz came across much suggestive material connected with the female castration complex and incestuous fixation to the mother, which substantiated Hoffmann's and Hermann's views on early 'dual-unity'. This, with Hermann, the author regards as not oral only, and finds that its disruption, resulting in separation anxiety, is the cause of the phantasy that to be alone is not to be a whole, but to be in pieces, mutilated, castrated.