The 'Complete Oedipus Complex' is shown to be a critical period in Spitz' sense of convergence of drive maturation with ego development. It is proposed that competence to venture into the heart of the oedipal conflict is acquired in the practising subphase of the separation-individuation process where traits such as venturesomeness, courage, initiative and the like become part of the self representations.

Also proposed is that tension between drive need and object relations need at the anal phase results in compromise that establishes a pattern