Six patients with chronic ulcerative colitis were observed during psychotherapeutic interviews, and the physiological activity of the colon was simultaneously recorded in an attempt to correlate segmental colonic motility with emotional responses. The principal emotional reaction producing such colonic activity proved to be fear, usually aroused by forbidden or otherwise conflicting sexual wishes or 'by intense rage at a frustrating "parentified" authority whose protection and love was desired for security purposes'. 'Activation of the colon' may serve as an outlet for increasing autonomic excitation and can be initiated by a variety of physiological disturbances as well as by 'an infantile fantasy of defecation as a means of expression of the suppressed rage at the frustrating "parentified" figure'. These patients looked to a magical, omnipotent authority for cure of their illness and resolution of their conflicts about aggressive rage. Their characters resembled those of paranoid schizophrenics.