The authors consider that the subject of trauma is a good example of how metapsychological constructs (in this case, in particular, the economic or quantitative point of view) originated as essential working hypotheses necessitated by clinical observation. These conceptualizations may help us to understand what finds expression in processes that are sensed as affects (als Affekte der Empfindung bemerkbar werden) either by the patient or by the analyst. In the case of trauma (in analysis), an object–relations approach is not only compatible (Balint) with metapsychology but seems to be

positively implicit in a correct interpretation of the latter.