The general problem is whether we can understand all dreams, from those that are (i) wholly pleasurable, (ii) more or less so, and (iii) of an anxiety kind, to those that (iv) re-enact a trauma, as fulfilments of pleasure-needs. Some dreams do not fulfil such needs. If we claim that fulfilment is attempted, the attempt must be made by the dream-work.

What interferes with the attempt is a 'punishment-need'—and punishment-needs, like pleasure-needs, have childhood sources. The use of this concept, instead of 'attempted pleasure-need-fulfilment', enables us to describe all dreams in terms of need-fulfilments.