The necessity of a preparatory phase which in many cases 'is longer than the analysis proper' is discussed with a view to the minimum requirement of personality development which justifies proper psycho-analytic treatment of a pre-latency child.

'In the first case, the child's high intelligence and her intense responsiveness had resulted in a picture of pseudo-maturity.' The maturitional level had to be restored in preparation for the analysis. 'In the second case, prolonged preparation was necessary because certain factors in the child's development had not permitted him to establish personal identity. In the third case, excessive and prolonged interference with physiological functions had already emerged. This led to fixation on magic control and autoplastic modes of mastery.'