Psychodynamic analysis of oral regression reveals a triad mechanism. Originally there is a masochistic pleasure from refusal by a mother (image). This is succeeded by a conscious denial of the repetitious provocation of such refusal, and by pseudoaggression; finally these orally regressed neurotics thus find justification for their masochistic self-pity. Bergler discusses the manner in which this mechanism makes the analyst the bad, refusing mother in the transference. In the early stages of treatment, analytic technique has to be modified in order to deal with what Bergler describes as the 'silent', 'logorrhoeic' and 'draining' type of resistance. He argues that a knowledge of the layer structure of oral regression will often be of value in differentiating oral regression correctly from the hysteriform psychoneuroses, e.g., men with negative, and women with hyperpositive, Oedipal fixations.