Glover has described the primitive ego as composed of many 'nuclei': an oral 'nucleus' has a positive relation to the nipple, and also a negative (biting) relation. Other erotogenic zones or levels of organization also constitute nuclei. Glover stated also that 'the decomposition products of schizophrenia' represent primitive ego nuclei. This paper postulates that although primitive ego nuclei normally operate during the early course of individual development, these early phases of development are much more intensive and persistent in those people who later develop schizophrenia.