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The concentration of libido in the functioning of the bodily orifices determines their importance in the development of the archaic body ego in infancy. Because of the preponderance of oral libido all bodily orifices may be regarded as ingestive organs endowed with fantasies of incorporation. The orifices are of basic significance in the development of the body image which plays a fundamental role in ego development and the sense of security about the integrity of the ego. The impaired body image in a type of oral character is delineated from the analysis of the orgastic impotence that is the result of such defective ego development. The fear of death that accompanies this type of frigidity is a mobilization of anxiety to prevent loss of the primitive ego which threatens a total annihilation of self. Anxiety is created when destruction of the body ego is anticipated. The wish for orgasm, for postorgastic
fulfilment, creates a repetitive demand which is frustrated by the fear of the annihilation that would follow were the instinctual demand to be gratified. The orally dependent type is intolerant of tensions and seeks only to ingest and to retain the body image of the infant at the breast. Because this body image is poorly differentiated from external reality, it is threatened with dissolution by instinctual and emotional intensities. The wish to be loved (to be eaten) is equated with destruction of the body ego which engenders anxiety that inhibits the orgasm.