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It is emphasized that in every criminal action a distinction should be made between two factors: (1) the variable, psychological, unconscious content, and (2) the constant pathognomic factor. The latter, which the author calls the 'mechanism of criminosis' is made the subject of this study.
The 'mechanism of orality' in neurosis is differentiated from that in 'criminosis'. It is stressed that in criminosis the mechanism is based on a reaction to an infantile desire to force the mother (or her representative) to acknowledge the child's readiness to take revenge (for oral denial). Masochism and an unconscious sense of guilt are mentioned as being of equal importance.
Nine colorful case histories of neurotics, who could be called potential criminals, serve as illustrations. The author points out that clinical knowledge of crime is still lacking and expresses pessimism as to the therapeutic possibilities. However, he does not fail to conclude that punishment is the reward which the criminal (unconsciously) sought, the dread of which is 'more necessary for the noncriminal as a recompense for his being a life-long good boy'.