The ego attitude of entitlement is presented as a distortion of the self representation, developing in response to a deficiency in maternal relatedness. It represents an attempt of the toddler to avoid the perception of the true nature of the maternal object. This perception would stimulate affects (rage, helplessness, separation anxiety) that would disorganize his immature ego. In addition to preoedipal disturbances in maternal relatedness, the quality of the paternal presence at different stages of development is explored.