An attempt has been made via several vignettes and relevant genetic material to describe the deviant ego structure of masochistic women who unconsciously provoke their self-defeat. It has been found that two wishful self-images developed concomitantly: one related to the maternal internalizations which became unconscious, and one related to the paternal internalizations which became the core of the patients' conscious avowed standard of aspirations. Their self representation was split. It contained two self-images: one maternally and one paternally derived. Fusion of these substructures could not occur because of the permanence of the ego split. Subsequently, superego and ego-ideal development became deviant. Intrasystemic conflict led to pathological behaviour patterns.