Toward an Understanding of the Physical Nucleus of Some Defence Reactions

This paper attempts to present suggestions for the study of some defence reactions in their inception and early stages, especially before the full assembling of the ego. It was stimulated by the need to understand some unusual symptomatic forms of defence seen from time to time throughout years of psycho-analytic work, and especially the predilection of certain individuals for certain specific forms or variations of common defence mechanisms—in which the unusual variation did not seem to be determined exclusively or mainly by the individual content arising from the later periods of infancy. It makes accessory use of reconstructions in the course of psycho-analytic therapy. Some of its suggestions come from repeated observations on a number of patients: others from a few patients whom I found impressive. No attempt is made, however, to give a systematic account of the pre-ego forms of defence, either in the variety of their differences or the full evaluation of this early development. The paper is in the direction of an understanding rather than offering a conclusive or definitive presentation.

Development of defensive measures of the human organism seems to proceed in an ontogenetic fashion from early direct or reflex reactions of a purely physical nature operating against the environment to the complex structure of psychophysical responses. An example of the primitive physical defence reaction which becomes incorporated into a whole gamut of psychophysical responses is the body's use of water in different locations and for different regulating and protective functions. The ease with which it is mobilized in small, localized or more diffuse accumulations in the tissues or extravasated externally allows it to function as a mechanical pad protection, a solvent of irritating substances, a local or general cooling agent, and a factor contributing to hydrodynamic and c