The child may provoke traumatic postoedipal experiences of frustration by the parents in order to make conscious the unconscious awareness of the parent's hostile attitudes. This type of self-imposed trauma can strengthen the child's defenses and lead to stronger ego development. Working through of this problem in analysis clarifies the connection between such postoedipal acting out and preoedipal fantasies. The gain stems from the harmonizing of unconscious fragmentary impressions of hidden parental attitudes with conscious recognition of these attitudes. The gain outweighs the suffering and disillusionment which accompany the self-provoked traumatic experiences.