Steinberg's aim is to discriminate the fear of success as a clinical phenomenon, to explicate its personal and archetypal roots and to propose a psychotherapeutic approach. He considers various life activities in which the feeling of success can be experienced, and defines it as ‘a mixture of potency, independence, separateness and positive self-esteem’ where the individual uses his ‘abilities to move an issue towards a favorable conclusion’. Certain people, however, cannot enjoy their success but depreciate or undermine their achievements. Essentially, Steinberg believes that all fears of success are manifestations of the inner fear of psychological development. In analysis individuals may experience anxiety or depression at indications of psychological growth and deny, improvement or even regress.