The 'defensive cunning of the unconscious ego' produces various types of depression, of which the author here describes one. The ego selects an episode or situation in which it is really without guilt, and adduces evidence of innocence. The consequent depression is 'hoarded' for future use, being presented to the superego when a justified accusation is later leveled at the ego. In this way the reproaches of conscience can be refuted. The mechanism at work is similar to what Bergler has previously described under the title of 'refutation dreams'.